What do you mean by DeQuervain’s Tendonitis?

DeQuervain’s Tendonitis is a painful condition that occurs when the tendons running from the back of your thumb down the side of your wrist get swollen and irritated. This swelling in turn, constricts the canal at the base of your wrist. So, every time when you turn your wrist to hold something or make a fist, it starts aching or hurting.

What are the causes of DeQuervain’s Tendonitis?

DeQuervain’s Tendonitis occurs when you continue with the activities which put strain on your tendons at back / outer aspect of thumb. Factors and activities listed below lead to DeQuervain’s Tendonitis:

• Sports activities like; golf, ten pin bowling, rowing
• Manual work like; painting, chopping wood, sewing, knitting, use of vibrating machinery
• Constant lifting of children
• Direct injury to wrist tendon
• A fall or forceful movement
• Injury to thumb, wrist elbow, neck, shoulder and upper back
• Excessive training
• Weakness of muscles
• Muscle Stiffness
• Tightening of joints
• Faulty sporting technique
• Bad posture
• Poor ergonomic set up
• Insufficient warm up

 What are the potential signs and symptoms of DeQuervain’s Tendonitis?

Following factors can be stated as potential symptoms of DeQuervain’s Tendonitis:

• Ache or tightness at the back of thumb or wrist
• Swollen tendon
• Feeling of pain when tendon is touched
• Occasional pins and needles feeling in the thumb
• Weakness in the wrist, hand and thumb
• Numbness in the Index finger
• Movement of thumb and wrist is hindered due to pain and inflammation

How physical Therapy can help to treat DeQuervain’s Tendonitis?

DeQuervain’s Tendonitis is treated using medications, physical or occupational therapy. Discontinuing the activities that affect and worsen your condition, can also help a lot to cure and heal the ailment. Following techniques are employed by the physical therapists to treat DeQuervain’s Tendonitis:

• Initially, the physical therapist will advice to rest your thumb and wrist to reduce inflammation. At times, splint and braces are used to keep them straight.
• Manual hands- on therapy is used to treat DeQuervain’s Tendonitis.
• Soft tissues massage, Trigger point releases, Joint mobilization therapies are administered to improve functioning and relieve strain on tendons.
• Flexion, Extension and Rotation exercises are performed to strengthen the tendons.
• Range of motion exercises are administered to loosen and mobilize the stiff tendon.
• Strengthening exercises are performed to restore functioning and promote healing as well.
• Stretches are administered to improve the flexibility of the affected tendon.

 At Active Physical Therapy, our eminent and skilled physical therapists are always ready to help you out with any of your musculoskeletal ailments and disorders. Your wellbeing is our top most priority. We are always ready to serve you with best of the treatment plans as per your needs and requirements.