Our fingers are delicate structures that we rely on for a variety of different tasks. It’s easy to take our fingers for granted. They are crucial for accessing our devices, eating and other daily necessities. That’s why it can be so frustrating when you experience finger pain. There are numerous reasons why you may be feeling pain in your fingers. The good news is that physical therapists are experienced in treating the variety of things that can cause finger pain.
Are you wondering why your finger hurts when you bend it? Physical therapy is an effective option for relieving painful finger symptoms.
Why does my finger hurt when I bend it?
There could be a few different reasons why your finger hurts when you bend it. Here are the most common causes of finger pain:
- Sprain — If you’ve sprained your finger recently or in the past, this can cause pain when the finger is being bent. You may have lingering symptoms because your finger joints are still healing.
- Repetitive strain injury — Sometimes you don’t need to sustain a traumatic injury like a finger sprain or a fracture to feel pain. Your fingers are also susceptible to repetitive strain injuries that can occur slowly over a period of time. These can happen when the same motion over time causes stress to the fingers.
- Arthritis — The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis. It’s also known as “wear-and-tear” arthritis because it happens over time as people age. Arthritis is a condition that occurs when the cartilage in the joints break down. This causes the bones in the joint to rub together, and the resulting friction can be extremely painful.
How can a physical therapist help if my finger hurts when I bend it?
A physical therapist can treat injuries and other conditions that are causing you finger pain. Here are some common techniques a physical therapist may use to treat your finger pain:
- Joint mobilization — Joint mobilization is a hands-on technique where a physical therapist will move a joint through its full range of motion. If you are experiencing finger pain, you may find that your fingers become stiff as well. This can actually lead to more pain if you find that your fingers become less flexible. Joint mobilization seeks to retain and even restore your finger flexibility.
- Therapeutic exercise — If your finger joints are under a lot of stress, then it’s important to strengthen your fingers and hands to support the joints. A physical therapist can educate you with specialized exercises intended to strengthen your fingers. This can reduce the tension in your finger joints and may help relieve pain.
- Electrical stimulation — This technique involves the attaching of electrodes to send electrical pulses that stimulate the soft tissue. Electrical stimulation is never intended to be painful; in fact, this technique is effective in reducing pain.
Experiencing pain in your finger when you bend it? Excel Sports and Physical Therapy is ready to provide you relief
Since we use our hands every day for so many routine tasks, finger pain can put a damper on daily life. Our physical therapists at Excel Sports and Physical Therapy are experts in treating hand and finger conditions. We are prepared to build you a personalized treatment plan that targets the cause of your finger pain.
Contact our team today for more information about physical therapy for finger pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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