Notice pain in the fingers when bending them could be something punctual or chronic and the causes can be diverse. In some cases, the pain will go away and you can do a lot to prevent it from coming back; In others, although the pain remains, there are techniques to relieve it and prevent it from getting worse.

Pain in the fingers when bending them: causes

The osteoarthritis It is a common cause of pain in the fingers. It is a degenerative disease that affects the joints and occurs when hyaline cartilage (which covers the ends of bones within a joint and cushions friction between them) begins to wear down over time, causing pain, swelling, and limited range of motion in the affected joint. Osteoarthritis typically affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, or spine, but it can also occur in the hands, fingers, and other joints.

• Finger pain due to osteoarthritis may be accompanied by swelling, redness, or deformity in the fingersand feeling of having the stiff hand (especially first thing in the morning).

Pain in the fingers accompanied by swelling (the joint may be warm to the touch) and rigidity It may also be due to the rheumatoid arthritisa disease in which the immune system itself damages the joints and connective tissue.

A condition called trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis), which occurs when the tendons in the finger become inflamed or thickened, can make it difficult to move the finger and cause pain or a popping or snapping sensation when stretched.

The tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons) can occur in the fingers due to excessive use or repetitive movementsfor example, when using a mobile phone or computer a lot. It can cause pain when bending the fingers and may be accompanied by swelling and tenderness.

Although multiple factors can influence the appearance of pain in the fingers, “Often one of the causes of finger pain is bad keyboard use”, explains physiotherapist Bibiana Badenes.

Spending a lot of time sending messages on your cell phonefor example, causes repetitive work to affect the thumb, the tendon becomes inflamed and pain appears over time. “It is progressive and damages the joint, which In the long run it can cause osteoarthritis of the thumbor a de Quervain’s tendonitiswhich affects the two tendons that extend from the dorsal aspect of the thumb toward the wrist”, he warns.

Pain in the fingers can also be the result of a ligament injurylike a sprain or strain due to a blow, repetitive stress on the fingers or incorrect hand position when performing an activity.

Compression or irritation of the nerves in the hands, which occurs in diseases such as carpal tunnel syndromecan cause pain in the fingers when bending them, along with tingling or numbness.

In any case, if you notice pain that worsens or does not go away in your fingers, you should consult your doctor to determine the cause.

How to relieve pain in the fingers?

The most appropriate treatment to eliminate finger pain will depend on the cause. However, some general measures can help you:

• Avoid repetitive movements for a while or those activities that cause or increase pain can help recovery and prevent the pain from getting worse.
• In some cases, especially if the pain is due to osteoarthritis or tendonitis, the use of a splint or brace It can provide support to the fingers, reduce movement and relieve pain.
• Apply ice (wrapped in a cloth, never directly on the skin) can help reduce inflammation and temporarily relieve pain.
• The heaton the other hand, is useful for relax muscles and increase blood flow.

When the pain is due to repetitive movements or poor positioning of your hands when performing an activity, it may be helpful to ergonomic modifications: It is important to ensure that the place where we work is well distributed, our body and hand posture is appropriate and the tools we use are ergonomic.

In this sense, some of the keys that can help avoid pain from using the keyboardAccording to the physiotherapist, they are:

• When using a keyboard, have the wrist aligned with forearmswithout bending it, and resting on the hypothenar region (that is, the bulging area of ​​the palm of the hand below the little finger) of the hand.
• Avoid typing too hard.
• Use a ergonomic keyboardwell «stimulates the natural position of the wrists and facilitates the mobility of the fingers for comfortable writing”he explains.
• Do not type with your fingers perpendicular to the keys, but almost horizontal«so that whatever you press the buttons is the fingerprint area«, he clarifies. This is how the impact will be distributed.
• Stretch your neck and do whole arm movements several times a day.
• Varying the postures.

Exercises to relieve finger pain

Perform gentle exercises and stretches with your fingers can help improve your flexibility, strengthen muscles and reduce pain in those cases in which it is due to repetitive stress or bad posture, although it is advisable to consult a specialist to find out if they are indicated in each specific case.

“A first general recommendation would be to hand relaxation exercises regularly«, indicates Badenes. Examples of these exercises are:

• Wrist extension and flexion (towards different sides).
• Wear sponge balls.
• Interlace your fingers and generate light pressure between them without bending the wrists or hyperextending the fingers.
• Make the clamp between each finger of the hand and thumb.
• Put it several times a day flat hand on the table and distribute the weight throughout the palm.