Tips for Spring: How to avoid Trigger Fingers

By Dr. Kristen Ploetze

What a beautiful time of year! Knoxville is officially blooming. As the dogwoods blossom across the city, folks are heading back out into the garden.

All that yardwork can take a toll on the health of our hands. Repetitive gripping from weeding and planting, and the constant grip of power tools, can cause our tendons to swell. Trigger finger is a condition that affects the tendons of the hand, causing them to become inflamed or swollen. It results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and a feeling of the finger getting stuck or “triggered” when it bends.

Tips for avoiding Trigger Fingers:

• • Take regular breaks when working out in the garden or with power tools

• • Try to relax your grip during activity

• • Stretch your hands first thing in the morning and before bed at night in warm water or Epsom salt soaks

If you are already experiencing symptoms of a trigger finger, a splint at night may be helpful. Usually once the finger starts catching or “triggering,” it is best to see an orthopaedic hand specialist to devise a treatment plan that may include activity modification, splints, anti-inflammatories, and steroid injections.

Taking steps today can help you avoid discomfort and keep your hands moving smoothly for years to come!

Here at KOC, we have hand and wrist physicians available at each of our 10 office locations to evaluate and treat conditions like trigger fingers.

Please call (865) 558-4444 or click here to request an appointment with one of our hand experts.

Happy Gardening!