Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)

What is Trigger Finger (Stenosing Tenosynovitis)?

Individuals in Baulkham Hills and the Hills Area experiencing Trigger Finger, also known as Stenosing Tenosynovitis, can find effective management and relief through Precision Health’s chiropractic and massage services.

Understanding Trigger Finger in Baulkham Hills

Trigger Finger is a condition affecting the fingers and thumb, characterised by a snapping or locking sensation at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint during hand movements (opening or closing of the hand). This occurrence results from irritation to the flexor digitorum tendons responsible for closing the hand (and making a fist). Repetitive trauma or inflammatory disorders, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, can cause swelling, nodules, and altered tendon diameter. This altered diameter makes it difficult for the tendons to travel through their tendon sheaths (the layer of membrane that surrounds each tendon) causing the tendon to become momentarily stuck at the mouth of the tendon sheath followed by a snap and a sudden straightening of the finger as the thickened part of the tendon slips through the sheath.

Treatment Options and Chiropractic Care in the Hills Area

Treatment options for Trigger Finger include corticosteroid injections into the tendon sheath, reducing swelling and allowing smooth tendon movement. Surgery becomes an option if corticosteroid injections prove ineffective. Precision Health’s chiropractors offer routine management for Trigger Finger, providing an alternative for those who prefer to avoid corticosteroid injections or surgery.Trigger Finger, also known as Stenosing Tenosynovitis, is a condition that affects the fingers and thumb, where a snapping or locking of the digits at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint occurs when the hand is opened or closed.

Trigger finger is caused by an irritation of the flexor digitorum tendons, which are the tendons responsible for closing the hand or making a fist. Irritation, typically due to repetitive trauma or an inflammatory disorder (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis), causes the tendons to become swollen and enlarged and/or causes nodules to form on the tendon.

This irritation/swelling makes it difficult for the tendons to travel through their tendon sheaths (the layer of membrane that surrounds each tendon) causing the tendon to become momentarily stuck at the start of the tendon sheath followed by a snap and a sudden straightening of the finger as the thickened part of the tendon slips through the sheath.

Henton, J., Jain, A., Medhurst, C. and Hettiaratchy, S., 2012. Adult trigger finger. BMJ: British Medical Journal (Online), 345.

Makkouk, A.H., Oetgen, M.E., Swigart, C.R. and Dodds, S.D., 2008. Trigger finger: etiology, evaluation, and treatment. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 1, pp.92-96

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