Wrist & hand Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
Trigger Finger
- A finger catching or locking when bent
- A painful click straightening the finger
- A tender nodule in the palm at the base of the finger
- Stiffness worst in the morning
Quick answer
Trigger finger is a thickening of the flexor tendon or its sheath at the base of a finger, causing the finger to catch or lock when bent and click painfully when straightened. Splinting, tendon gliding and activity modification resolve many cases over six to twelve weeks.
Typical recovery
6–12 weeks conservatively
A typical range, not a promise — how long it takes depends on how long it has been going on, and on what you do between appointments.
The tendons that bend the fingers run through a series of pulleys along each finger. When the tendon or its sheath thickens at the first pulley — in the palm, at the base of the finger — it no longer slides smoothly, and the finger catches.
What it feels like
A click or a catch when bending or straightening the finger, sometimes needing the other hand to release it. It is usually worst first thing in the morning. There is often a tender lump in the palm at the base of the affected finger. The ring finger and thumb are most commonly involved.
Who gets it
More common in women, in people over forty, and substantially more common in people with diabetes, where it is also more likely to affect several fingers.
How physiotherapy helps
- Splinting the affected joint at night to prevent the finger curling and the tendon catching repeatedly
- Tendon gliding exercises to maintain smooth movement
- Hands-on soft tissue treatment to the nodule and the surrounding tissue
- Reducing sustained heavy gripping while it settles
How long it takes
Many cases settle over six to twelve weeks with splinting and modification. Where locking persists, a corticosteroid injection is often effective, and a small proportion need a straightforward surgical release.
Medically reviewed by Pooja Tyagi, BPT, MPT, Orthopaedic Physiotherapy · Last reviewed September 2026