“People with diabetes will commonly get trigger finger in multiple digits. “However, men certainly get this condition in the course of their daily work and other activities.” But the population with the highest incidence of trigger finger is diabetics. When they do activities that put too much stress on the tendons, they tend to swell more,” explains Dr. “We think it’s more common in women because their hands are a little smaller. In the general population, trigger finger is typically brought on when people overuse their hands doing activities that require a great deal of gripping or pinching. “It’s more frequent in people over 40, and it tends to be a little more common in women than in men,” says Dr. While the condition is quite common, it strikes certain populations more frequently than others. It tends to catch and create a locking sensation when the person tries to open their hand.

When the tendon is inflamed, it is unable to slide normally through the tendon sheath.

It can include inflammation of the tubular sheath that the tendon slides through when the hand is opened and closed. Trigger finger is actually a swelling – or tendonitis – of the flexor tendon that controls the flexing movement of a finger or thumb. “That’s true of my colleagues, as well,” he points out, referring to the team at the OAM Hand & Upper Extremity Center. “I treat several people every week with this condition,” says Dr. DeHaan, M.D., hand and upper extremity specialist at Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan, sees his share of patients with this condition.

In severe cases, the hand or affected finger becomes locked in a closed or bent position. People who have it notice tightness and a popping or clicking when they flex – or open – their fingers. The medical term for the condition is stenosing tenosynovitis of the flexor sheath. Trigger finger is one of the most common problems hand surgeons encounter.

Why is your thumb not a finger