Rolling With It

More than half of teens with smartphones say texting is their main method of communication. With more than 75 percent of all teens owning smartphones, according to Pew Research Center, it seems safe to say that texting is a firmly established trend. What’s more, by some estimates, adults spend an average of 11 hours each day using electronic media. As a result, people of all ages are experiencing physical effects that really didn’t exist 20 years ago, such as text neck and texting thumb. These physical conditions are the direct result of overuse of electronic devices or a lack of awareness while using them. The good news is that you can avoid the physical discomfort of text fatigue by making a few elemental changes.

Dupuytren’s contracture, also called “Viking’s Disease,” is a condition of the hand affecting the underlying palm tissue. It is not the same as Dupuytren’s Disease, which can affect other parts of the body. As Dupuytren’s contracture slowly progresses, the palmar fascia gets thicker and shortens, ultimately forming fibrous cords beneath the skin, constricting the tendons and causing one or more fingers to bend inward toward the palm.

This condition often takes years to develop. One of the first signs of Dupuytren’s is a thickening of palm tissue. In time, you may notice puckering or dimples in the thickened tissue. Small knots of eventually form beneath the skin of your palm. These lumps are not especially painful, but they may hurt when pressed. The lumps slowly grow into cords that extend along the palm of your hand and up into the fingers. The ring and pinky fingers are the most often affected. You may lose your grip strength and have trouble holding onto objects.

Gamer's Thumb involves the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath or tunnel (called the synovium) that surrounds the two tendons that control movement of the thumb. You may hear it referred to as flexor tenosynovitis, stenosing tenosynovitis, de Quervain's tenosynovitis (dih-kwer-VAINS ten-oh-sine-oh-VIE-tis), or de Quervain syndrome.

Two common stenosing tenosyonvitis diagnoses are:

• DeQuervain's Syndrome - this involves the first dorsal compartment of the wrist
• Trigger finger - this occurs when a fibrous nodule develops in the digital flexor tendon

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger is a condition that causes one of your fingers to remain stuck in a bent position. Another term for trigger finger is stenosing tenosynovitis (stuh-NO-sing ten-o-sin-o-VIE-tis). Your finger might straighten out with a snap, like a trigger being pulled and released (MayoClinic.org).

What Causes Trigger Finger?

Inflammation will cause a narrowing of the space within the sheath surrounding the tendon in the afflicted finger. If severe, this finger can remain locked in a bent position.

Who is at Risk?

Women, those with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, and those working in jobs with repetitive gripping actions are at highest risk for developing trigger finger.