Trigger Finger — When the Finger Catches
Table of Contents
If your finger clicks and catches when straightening
Trigger finger (also called stenosing tenosynovitis) is the phenomenon in which the flexor tendon catches or locks as it passes through the A1 pulley. A clicking sensation occurs when the finger is bent and straightened, and in severe cases the finger locks in the bent position and must be released with the other hand. It most commonly occurs in the thumb, middle finger, and ring finger.
The relationship between the A1 pulley and tendon nodules
Flexor tendons of the finger move through tunnel structures called pulleys. The A1 pulley is located at the boundary between the palm and the finger (at the MCP joint). When the tendon develops a nodule from repetitive use or aging, or when the pulley becomes thickened, the tendon can no longer glide smoothly through and gets caught.
- Early stage: Morning stiffness in the finger, mild catching when bending and straightening
- Progressive stage: Distinct clicking sound with momentary locking that releases on its own
- Advanced stage: Finger fully locked, must be released with the other hand
- High-risk groups: Women in their 50s–60s and people with diabetes have higher incidence.
Korean medicine treatment: shrinking the nodule with pharmacopuncture
Pharmacopuncture is injected directly into the tendon nodule to reduce its size and decrease friction with the pulley. Acupuncture promotes local blood flow, and moxibustion restores tissue flexibility.
- Pharmacopuncture: Precise injection at the A1 pulley to reduce tendon swelling and shrink the nodule
- Acupuncture: Local stimulation of palm acupoints to relieve pain and promote blood flow
- Heat therapy: Moxibustion and infrared improve tissue flexibility and ease morning stiffness
- Self-care: After soaking the hand in warm water, perform gentle flexion and extension to maintain tendon gliding
If you have diabetes, treat more aggressively
Patients with diabetes tend to develop trigger finger in multiple fingers simultaneously and respond more slowly to treatment. With strict blood sugar management combined with acupuncture and pharmacopuncture, significant improvement can be expected without surgery.