Trigger finger causes a finger or thumb to click, catch or lock when you bend it. It happens when the tendon that bends the finger, and the tunnel it slides through, become swollen and irritated. It is more common in women and in people in their 50s and 60s.
Early treatment with splinting, activity changes and exercise can often settle it. Our doctor is on site if an injection or a specialist opinion is needed.
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- Clicking, catching or locking of a finger or thumb
- Finger splints, activity advice and gentle exercises
- Therapy to ease pain and swelling
- Doctor on site for medicine, injection or referral if needed
- Repetitive gripping, such as carrying bags, writing or using tools
- Inflammation of the tendon sheath
- Diabetes
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Painless clicking at first
- Later, painful catching or popping
- Stiffness and swelling, worse in the morning
- A tender lump at the base of the finger
How physiotherapy helps
- Assessment: We check the affected finger and how you use your hand at work and home.
- Splinting: A finger splint, worn for several weeks, rests the tendon and lets the swelling settle.
- Treatment: Activity advice, cold therapy, and SIS therapy, electrical stimulation or ultrasound where helpful.
- Exercise: Gentle tendon gliding and hand exercises to keep the finger moving.
Our doctor is on site and can prescribe pain relief or anti-inflammatory medicine, arrange scans, or discuss an injection if it is needed.
- the finger is stuck bent and will not straighten
- redness, heat and swelling spreading in the hand
- numbness in the fingers
Book physiotherapy for trigger finger
One-to-one sessions with our AHPC-registered physiotherapist at 79 Serangoon Garden Way, from $200 for 45 minutes. Home physiotherapy also available.
Frequently asked questions
Will trigger finger go away by itself?
Mild cases sometimes settle, but many need treatment. Splinting and activity changes work best when started early.
Do I need surgery?
Most people do not. If splinting, physiotherapy and an injection do not help, we can refer you to a hand specialist.
Do I need a referral?
No, you can book physiotherapy directly. If you need medical review, our doctor is on site.
Prefer us to call you?
Leave your details and our team will contact you within one working day.
Information reviewed by our physiotherapy team at Ashford Medical Centre. This page is general information and is not a substitute for a personal assessment.
