If your finger catches, locks, or clicks painfully when you try to bend or straighten it, this service is designed to help. At Performance Chiropractic + Physiotherapy in Edmonton, we support people dealing with hand pain and stiffness that interfere with work, hobbies, and daily tasks by addressing the mechanical causes of trigger finger, reducing pain, and restoring smooth movement, so you can use your hand with confidence again.
Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, develops when the tendon that bends your finger can no longer glide smoothly through its sheath. Instead of moving freely, the tendon catches, causing pain, stiffness, and sometimes a sudden locking sensation. Understanding why this happens is the first step toward choosing the right care and avoiding ongoing irritation or long-term loss of function.
The flexor tendons run through narrow tunnels supported by pulleys. Repetitive gripping, forceful use, or prolonged hand strain can irritate the tendon, causing thickening or swelling. When the tendon becomes larger than the pulley opening, it momentarily gets stuck, leading to the characteristic clicking or snapping sensation when the finger moves.
Inflammation inside the tendon sheath reduces space for smooth movement and increases pressure during finger motion. This can cause localized pain at the base of the finger or thumb, morning stiffness, and tenderness that worsens with use, making simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or holding a mug uncomfortable.
Without appropriate care, symptoms can progress from mild clicking to frequent locking, sometimes requiring you to use your other hand to straighten the finger. Ongoing irritation can lead to reduced grip strength, compensatory hand movements, and prolonged recovery times if treatment is delayed.
Rest and temporary activity modification may ease symptoms initially, but they rarely address the underlying movement restrictions, tendon loading issues, or contributing wrist and forearm mechanics. Without guided rehabilitation, symptoms often return once normal hand use resumes.
Working with a qualified physiotherapist can help reduce pain, improve tendon glide, and restore functional finger movement without surgery. The goal is not only symptom relief, but also helping you return to daily activities, work demands, and hobbies with less fear of recurrence and better long-term hand health.
Care typically begins with a detailed assessment of finger motion, grip strength, swelling, and contributing factors in the wrist, forearm, and shoulder. Treatment may include targeted manual therapy to improve tendon mobility, guided exercises to restore controlled movement and strength, advice on activity modification, and education on pacing and load management. When appropriate, splinting strategies and progressive return-to-use plans are incorporated, all aligned with current physiotherapy standards of practice.
Timelines vary depending on symptom severity, duration, and daily hand demands, but many people notice reduced pain or smoother movement within a few weeks of consistent physiotherapy. Longer-standing or more severe cases may require a more gradual rehabilitation plan.
Even when locking is frequent, physiotherapy can help reduce inflammation, improve tendon glide, and address contributing factors. In some cases, it is used alongside medical management, helping improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood of ongoing problems.
In most cases, trigger finger can be assessed clinically without imaging, and you do not need a physician referral to see a physiotherapist in Alberta. Imaging or further medical review may be suggested if symptoms do not respond as expected.
People seeking help often want to know about cost, visit frequency, and whether treatment will fit their schedule. Care plans are tailored to your needs, typically involving spaced appointments and home exercises to support progress between visits. Your physiotherapist will explain findings clearly, outline realistic expectations, and adjust treatment based on how your hand responds over time.
