If you have noticed your finger catching, locking, or snapping when you try to bend or straighten it, you are dealing with trigger finger.
It is a surprisingly common condition, affecting 2% to 3% of the general population, and it is one of the most frequent reasons people visit hand specialists.
The good news is that most cases can be resolved without surgery, particularly when shockwave therapy is part of the treatment plan.
What Is Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger, medically known as stenosing tenosynovitis, happens when the flexor tendon that bends your finger can no longer glide smoothly through the A1 pulley, a small tunnel of tissue at the base of the finger where it meets the palm.
When the tendon or its sheath becomes thickened and swollen, it gets stuck trying to pass through that narrow tunnel. Once enough force builds up, the tendon pops through, producing the characteristic catching or snapping sensation.
In more advanced cases, the finger can lock completely in a bent position and require manual straightening with the other hand.
Who Gets Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger is three times more common in women than in men. People with diabetes are at significantly higher risk, with trigger finger affecting up to 20% of diabetic patients compared to 2% to 3% of the general population.
Elevated blood sugar is thought to alter collagen within the tendon sheath, making it thicker and less pliable.
Repetitive gripping, forceful hand use, and jobs involving sustained tool use are also recognized risk factors, making it a common workplace injury in trades, manufacturing, and office settings.
The ring finger is the most commonly affected digit, followed by the thumb.
What Are the Symptoms of Trigger Finger?
The classic symptom is a finger that catches or snaps when bending or straightening.
Most people also notice a tender lump or nodule at the base of the affected finger, directly over the A1 pulley.
Stiffness is typically worse in the morning and eases as the hand warms up with use. In more severe cases, the finger locks in a bent position and must be manually freed, which can be both painful and alarming.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Treat Trigger Finger?
Shockwave therapy (ESWT) has the strongest direct clinical evidence among non-surgical treatments for trigger finger.
A randomized controlled trial of 60 patients found that wide-focused ESWT significantly improved both pain and hand function compared to a sham group, with the higher-energy treatment group showing better outcomes at the six-month mark and no adverse events reported.
A separate prospective study of 18 patients receiving radial ESWT found statistically significant improvements across pain levels, range of motion, grip strength, pinch strength, and standardized hand-function scores, with those benefits still holding at the three-month follow-up. A 2026 systematic review further supports ESWT as an effective non-surgical option for trigger finger.
Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic pulses directly to the thickened A1 pulley and tendon sheath, stimulating blood flow and triggering the body’s own tissue remodeling response. This addresses the actual structural problem, the narrowed tunnel the tendon can no longer glide through, rather than simply reducing pain temporarily.
What Else Helps With Trigger Finger?
Conservative care alongside shockwave therapy gives the best outcomes.
At The Disc Chiropractic, our Denver chiropractors combine shockwave therapy with splinting guidance to offload the affected tendon, soft tissue therapy targeting the forearm flexor muscles that feed into the tendon, and ergonomic recommendations to reduce the repetitive grip loading that caused the problem in the first place.
Addressing those underlying patterns is what prevents trigger finger from returning after treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Trigger Finger
Can trigger finger go away without treatment?
Very mild cases with minimal catching and no locking sometimes improve with rest and activity modification. However, once the finger is regularly catching or locking, and certainly if it is locking completely, structured treatment including shockwave therapy is needed. Without addressing the thickened tendon sheath, symptoms tend to progress rather than resolve on their own.
Is trigger finger the same as arthritis?
No. Trigger finger is a mechanical problem involving the flexor tendon and its sheath at the A1 pulley. Arthritis involves degeneration or inflammation of the joint itself. The two can coexist, and arthritis can increase the risk of developing trigger finger, but they are distinct conditions requiring different treatment approaches.
How quickly does shockwave therapy work for trigger finger?
Clinical studies have shown measurable improvements in pain and function within the first few weeks of starting treatment. The 60-patient randomized trial found better outcomes than sham at the six-month mark, while the 18-patient prospective study documented significant improvements at one, three, and three months. Most patients notice meaningful change well before the end of a full treatment course.
What happens if trigger finger is left untreated?
Without treatment, trigger finger typically progresses. What starts as occasional catching can advance to frequent locking, and eventually the finger may become fixed in a bent position. Prolonged untreated trigger finger can also lead to secondary joint stiffness that complicates recovery even after the tendon problem is resolved.
Do I need surgery for trigger finger?
Most cases do not require surgery. Surgery is typically reserved for fingers that are completely locked and haven’t responded to a genuine trial of conservative care and shockwave therapy. For the majority of patients, non-surgical treatment resolves the locking and restores smooth finger movement.
Dealing with a finger that catches or locks? Our team at The Disc Chiropractic can help. Call 720-573-4910 or book an appointment online.