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NCT Number: NCT06911762

The Effects of a Structured Hand Exercise Program on Trigger Finger: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To explore the effectiveness of a structured hand exercise program as a conservative treatment for trigger finger.

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Key information

Conditions

Trigger Finger Behavior Motor Activity Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Tendinopathy Tendon Entrapment Tenosynovitis Trigger Finger Disorder

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults with aged > 18 years old who are diagnosed with trigger finger
  • The Green classification grade 2 or grade 3
  • Pain (NPRS) equal or more than 4/10, during active triggering

Exclusion criteria

  • Pediatric or congenital trigger finger
  • Previously received physiotherapy, corticosteroid injection or surgery for trigger finger
  • Hand trauma, local infection or using systemic steroids due to other diseases

Treatment and study plan

Exercise

Behavioral

Participants will receive a 6-week structured hand exercise program. Participants will attend a face-to-face exercise session to learn all hand exercises. The exercise program will include: (1) Finger flexor stretching, (2) Tendon gliding exercise and (3) Isometric finger flexor exercise. A weekly tele follow-up will be done to participants in the experimental group

Primary outcomes

  1. Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) during triggering or movement

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, 10 weeks after baseline

    NPRS consists of 11-point numeric scale from '0' (no pain) to '10' (worst pain imaginable). Participants rate the pain level based on their own pain intensity from 0-10

Secondary outcomes

  1. Trigger finger stage in the Green Classification

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, 10 weeks after baseline

    Green's classification for trigger finger: Grade 1 (A history of catching with local pain). Grade 2 (Demonstrable catching with normal active extension). Grade 3 (Demonstrable locking requiring passive extension). Grade 4 (Fixed flexion deformity)

  2. Frequency of triggering

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, 10 weeks after baseline

    The frequency of triggering will be represented by the number of triggering events in ten active fists, from 0 to 10. Two questions will be asked: (1) What is the average number of triggering in ten active fists in the past one week? (2) What is the average number of painful triggering in ten active fists in the past one week?

  3. Functional score by Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (Hong Kong version)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, 10 weeks after baseline

    Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QuickDASH) is a shorten version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH). QuickDASH consisted of 11 items to measure physical function and symptoms in patients with upper limb disorders. DASH and QuickDASH were translated into Hong Kong version. Participants must complete at least 10 of the 11 items for a score to be calculated and the scores range from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability).

  4. Grip strength of the affected hand

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, 10 weeks after baseline

    Grip strength will be assessed using the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) protocol. Participants will be seated in a chair without arm rests, with hips and knees in 90 degrees. Shoulder holds in adduction and neutral rotation. Elbow holds in 90 degrees flexion with forearm in neutral rotation. Participants grip the dynamometer in 15-30 degrees wrist extension and 0-15 degrees of ulnar deviation. Participants will be asked to grip the dynamometer as hard as they can for 3 trials. The mean of the 3 trials will be recorded as the grip strength in kg.

  5. Structural changes using musculoskeletal ultrasound (A1 pulley thickness, flexor tendon thicknesses, A1 pulley lumen size)

    Time frame: Baseline, 6 weeks after baseline, 10 weeks after baseline

    Musculoskeletal ultrasound with a linear transducer (12MHz probe) will be used to evaluate the structural outcome measures.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Freddy Man Hin LAM, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

+852 2766-6720

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Apr 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Apr 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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