how to rehab a sprained middle finger

What do you do for a sprained finger?

Jun 14, 2017 · To treat a sprained finger at home, RICE is the first step you’ll take. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

How do you treat a cut on the tip of finger?

Mar 11, 2022 · Rest the finger and apply ice. Ice or cold therapy can be applied for 10 minutes every hour initially reducing the frequency as symptoms ease. Do not apply ice directly to the …

What does it mean when you Sprain Your Finger?

Apr 16, 2019 · A sprain occurs when a joint is stretched too far — causing stretching or tearing of ligament tissue that holds the joints together. Finger sprains, or “jams,” are one of the most …

How do you heal a broken finger quickly?

You can also use RICE therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation): Rest: Let your finger rest, if possible. Stop doing the activity that injured it (such as playing basketball) while your... Ice: Ice …

How long does it take for a middle finger sprain to heal?

What is the outlook for people with a sprained finger? Though sprains may be painful, most mild finger sprains heal in about a week. More severe sprains require at least three to six weeks to heal fully, but may remain swollen and tender for a significantly longer period of time in some cases.Aug 12, 2021

How do you fix a sprained middle finger?

Compress the affected joint by wrapping it, and keep it elevated. Compression and elevation both help to reduce swelling. Elevation is especially important at night. In addition to RICE, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) every eight hours.

How do you know if you sprained your middle finger?

If your finger is sprained, you might have:Pain in one of your finger joints when you try to move or use it.Stiffness in your finger or having a hard time straightening or bending it.Tenderness in your joint when you touch the area.Swelling in one of your finger joints.Sep 1, 2020

Can you strain your middle finger?

Sprains often occur in the ligaments of the proximal interphalangeal joints in the middle of the fingers—hinge joints that help the fingers bend. The ligaments of the thumb's metacarpophalangeal joint, or knuckle, can also become sprained, especially during a fall in which the thumb is pulled away from the body.

Should you tape a sprained finger?

Supporting a Sprained Finger Safely Finger splinting and buddy taping are great solutions for supporting a healing finger injury. As long as you pay attention to your skin health, your symptoms should gradually improve with time until you can start returning to some form of normal hand and finger function.Jul 13, 2020

How do you tell if finger is broken or sprained?

How do you tell if your finger is broken?Swelling that lasts for several days.Swelling that may extend to other parts of the hand.Bruising around the injured area.Extremely sharp pain.Limited range of motion of the finger.The finger looks misshapen or deformed.Stiffness.Burning or tingling.More items...•Apr 15, 2018

Can your finger be broken and still bend?

Is My Finger Broken if I can Bend it? Regardless of whether you can bend or move the finger or not, there is still a chance that it may have a fracture or a break. Typically, moving a broken finger will cause a lot of pain, but a break does not necessarily limit motion completely.Oct 26, 2018

How do you know if you tore a ligament in your finger?

When a ligament supporting a finger joint is injured pain is felt in the finger. It is often made more painful if the joint is moved or if the finger is touched where the ligament is injured....Other symptoms may include:reduced range of movement.stiffness.weakness.deformity.biomechanical problems.

How long does a finger tendon take to heal?

The repaired tendon will usually be back to full strength after about 12 weeks, but it can take up to 6 months to regain the full range of movement. Some people may never be able to move the affected finger or thumb as much as before it was damaged.

How to treat a sprained finger?

In addition to taping or splinting the injured finger, other treatments for a sprain include: 1 Ice the injured finger 2 Elevate if there is swelling 3 Take an anti-inflammatory medication 4 Gently move the finger to prevent stiffening

How long does it take for a finger sprain to heal?

So long as there is no fracture or dislocation, most finger sprains should be allowed to move within about a week.

What is the most common injury to the hand?

Finger sprains and dislocations are common injuries to the hand. When a sprain occurs, a ligament that supports a joint is stretched too far and the tough fibers of the ligament tissue become either partially or completely torn. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images.

What causes a finger to sprain?

Common causes of finger sprains and dislocations include sports injuries, work-related injuries, and automobile accidents.

Why does my finger bend?

Finger sprains are fairly common, especially as a result of sports injuries and falls onto your hand. Often, these cause the finger to bend unusually, causing the ligament injury and subsequent pain.

What is a dislocated finger?

A finger dislocation is a more severe injury to the digit, as it involves not only the ligament, but also the surrounding joint capsule, cartilage, and other tissues. When a joint is dislocated, the normal alignment of the finger is altered, and the joint must be put back into place. Sometimes, relocating a finger dislocation can be simple ...

Is it normal to have a sprain?

It is also normal for a sprain to cause pain and discomfort for a longer period of time. If it's really bothering you, ask your doctor if there is a way to reduce the discomfort. 6 . Although dislocation is a more serious injury, expect treatment similar to that of a sprain.

How to move a finger that is not affected?

Place the hand with the affected finger flat on a table, palm up. With your other hand, press down on the fingers that are not affected. Your affected finger will be free to move.

How to make a fist with your fingers?

Place your good hand on a table, palm up. Put your hand with the affected finger on top of your good hand with your fingers wrapped around the thumb of your good hand like you are making a fist.

How to do dip flexion?

slide 3 of 9, DIP flexion, With your good hand, grasp your affected finger. Your thumb will be on the top side of your finger just below the joint that is closest to your fingernail. Slowly bend your affected finger only at the joint closest to your fingernail. Hold for about 6 seconds.

How to make a fist?

Make a fist by bending your knuckles. Your thumb can gently rest against your index (pointing) finger. Unwind your fingers slightly so that your fingertips can touch the base of your palm. Your thumb can rest against your index finger . Move back to your starting position, with your fingers and thumb pointing up.

How to make a towel out of a towel?

Fold a small towel in half, and lay it flat on a table. Put your hand flat on the towel, palm down. Grab the towel, and scrunch it toward you until your hand is in a fist. Slowly straighten your fingers to push the towel back so it is flat on the table again. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

How to reduce swelling in finger?

While swelling isn’t necessarily the enemy, it can leave you feeling uncomfortable. Ice in a bag or an ice pack can be applied to the finger for 10 minutes every 2-3 hours throughout the day.

How to stretch your fingers?

You can mix this one up depending on what specific finger and joints you’re focusing on. Simply curl the fingers in toward the top of your palm, touching if possible. Then, alternate between touching the top and the middle of the palm. In between each repetition, completely straighten the fingers before going moving into the next. For an additional stretch, try spreading the fingers apart as far as possible as you straighten them.

Can a grade 3 sprain be repaired?

If the finger has been dislocated, there is typically tissue damage that affects the biomechanics of the finger that will also need to be repaired. Severely stretched or completely torn ligaments can be reattached in surgery to restore finger stability and function.

Why do we need to rest our fingers?

With any type of new injury, rest should always be the first line of defense. As the body mounts a healing response (via swelling and heat), rest allows it to complete this cascade more efficiently. For a high use area like the finger where you might forget to keep it rested, you may need a finger splint or taping as a reminder.

What is the best way to heal a nerve ending?

Compression. Prolonged pressure to the injured area is a great way to promote blood circulation for the healing process. Additionally, compression provides comfort to sensitive pain nerve endings. You can use an elastic bandage to cover the entire hand, tape to address a specific finger, or compression gloves.

Who is Jaydee Vykoukal?

JayDee Vykoukal is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, owner of the healthy habit platform Health Means Wealth, and freelance medical writer. She loves traveling and spending time with her family in nature. Her passion is helping others continue to participate in the activities they love through education and proper exercise.

Can NSAIDs help with swelling?

While anti-inflammatory medication, or NSAIDs, don’t specifically help the body heal, they can provide much-needed pain and swelling relief. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, Aleve, and naproxen are over the counter medications that can provide you relief. Follow instructions on the bottle for frequency and use them only as needed since they do carry a risk of side effects such as kidney damage.

What are the symptoms of a sprained finger?

A third-degree sprain is the most severe type of sprain. It indicates a severe tearing or rupture of the ligament. Symptoms may include: 1 full or partial dislocation of the finger 2 severe pain and swelling 3 instability of the full finger 4 discoloration of the finger

How long does it take for a sprain to heal?

Mild and moderate sprains typically are fully healed within three to six weeks. Sprains can be painful, but fortunately, they’re highly treatable. They’re also preventable. If you stretch before you exercise and build strength in the surrounding muscles, you’ll be less susceptible to sprains.

What is a sprain in sports?

A sprain is an injury that occurs when ligaments are torn or stretched. Ligaments are the bands of tissue that connect joints together. Sprains are extremely common injuries. While they are especially common in athletes that participate in sports involving catching or throwing balls, anyone can sprain a finger relatively easily.

What is second degree sprain?

A second-degree sprain is considered a moderate sprain, where more damage is done to the ligament. Damage may be done to the joint capsule, too. This may include a partial tear of the tissue. Symptoms include:

What is the most severe sprain?

A third-degree sprain is the most severe type of sprain. It indicates a severe tearing or rupture of the ligament. Symptoms may include: full or partial dislocation of the finger. severe pain and swelling. instability of the full finger. discoloration of the finger.

Do you need to see a doctor for a sprain?

If you think that you have a mild sprain, there’s no need to see a doctor at first. If home treatment hasn’t helped and you have no improved mobility after three or four days, though, make an appointment just to double check. Second- and third-degree sprains may require the attention of a doctor.

How to treat a finger sprain?

Finger sprain treatment. Rest the finger and apply ice. Ice or cold therapy can be applied for 10 minutes every hour initially reducing the frequency as symptoms ease. Do not apply ice directly to the skin as it may apply ice burns unless it is in the form of ice massage.

What is a sprained finger?

A sprained finger occurs when the finger is bent in some way causing damage to the ligaments which connect bones together. It is a common injury in sport. Here we explain the symptoms, causes, and treatment for a finger sprain.

How long does it take for a finger to heal from a ligament injury?

During the acute phase which is usually the first 24 to 48 hours elastic bandage or small finger-sized compression bandages can be used to help reduce swelling. Once the swelling has died down the finger should be taped to protect the injured ligament while it heals. The taping will be specific to the ligament injured.

Who is Mike Walden?

Mike Walden. Mike is creator & CEO of Sportsinjuryclinic.net. A qualified Sports Injury Therapist with a degree in Physical Education, Sports Science and Physics, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

What is a finger sprain?

Finger Sprains: Leave Them, Fix Them or Treat Them? A sprain occurs when a joint is stretched too far — causing stretching or tearing of ligament tissue that holds the joints together . Finger sprains, or “jams,” are one of the most common injuries in hand-focused sports, like basketball or volleyball, or sports where falls on hands are common, ...

What is the best way to treat a finger injury?

With minor injuries, typically the finger can be treated with RICE principles (rest, ice, compression and elevation). Another helpful treatment is to buddy tape the finger to the adjacent finger for increased stability.

What are the three joints of the finger?

The finger has three joints: the metacarpal phalangeal joint (MCP joint) or big knuckle, the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP joint) or the middle knuckle, and the distal interphalangeal joint (DIP joint) ...