There are three bones in each finger and two in the thumb. The bones are held together by ligaments and joints. Impact injuries during sports from a ball or another player can cause a trauma. This is often referred to as a "jammed finger." Following an injury, the finger can be swollen, movement is limited and there is severe pain. Sometimes the finger can be bent backwards--formally called hyperextension.
Identification
A sprain is a stretching or tearing of ligaments--the tough bands of fibrous tissue that connect one bone to another in the joints. Following an injury, use of the finger is limited. Many daily activities often cause a re-injury to the finger joint and delay healing. Repeated injury can lead to inflammation and increased joint stiffness. An individual should limit and avoid activities that may aggravate the injury. If not, the inflammation process can become chronic and require prescribed anti-inflammatory medication.
Restricting Movement
One treatment method to protect the finger is taping. When taping a swollen finger, one should tape either the index finger to the middle finger or the ring finger to the little finger. Cloth athletic tape is used around the bones and not the joint. Two loops are applied above and below the joint. The technique is used until swelling and pain decreases. A dry cold pack can be applied for 15 minutes every two hours.
Reducing Inflammation
A contrast bath performed two to three times per day reduces swelling and stiffness. A bowl with 98 degree F water and a bowl with 58 degree F water is used. The patient puts the injured hand in the warm water for three minutes. The hand is then put in the cold water for one minute. This is repeated three times and then finished with the hand in the warm water. The finger is slowly bent during the treatment.
Encouraging Movement
Adhesions in joints, tendons or ligaments make it harder to move the joint and may cause pain. One way to improve motion is with modeling clay. A patient holds the clay in his hand and squeezes it repeatedly. This forces the finger joint to bend and break up scar tissue fibers--the adhesions--within the ligaments or joint. Squeezing a soft hand ball is another method. This should be performed relatively pain-free, once inflammation has resolved.
Considerations
If a swollen finger does not improve, there may be a fracture. It is important for the injured person to consult a health care professional to determine if an X-Ray is needed. Fractures may require casting or professional splinting. Ongoing inflammation may also be treated with an anti-inflammatory medication called cortisone which is injected into the joint or ligaments. Severely torn ligaments may require hand surgery and rehabilitation provided by an occupational or physical therapist.
