Trigger finger, a painful condition that affects the fingers or thumb, can affect skiers and other people who regularly use their hands to grip objects. The condition may limit your ability to use your hand normally. Trigger finger often improves...
When you hurt your thumb playing volleyball, you probably want to get back on the court as soon as possible. Exercises after a thumb injury can help improve your range of motion in your thumb as well as strengthen the muscles and ligaments that...
Repetitive stress injuries are common occurrences affecting various body parts. The thumb is particularly susceptible since the fingers are used for almost every daily task. The thumb is designed to perform complex mechanical motions, but when...
A sprained thumb makes it difficult to perform certain movements in basketball, but learning how to tape the injury can allow a player to still be effective. The sprain reduces the flexibility of the thumb, affecting such things as dribbling,...
Skier's thumb -- also referred to as gamekeeper's thumb -- is an injury to the ligament located on the inside of your thumb. This ligament is responsible for movement of your thumb joint and provides stability for the thumb. The American...
As hard as it is to sit on the sidelines if you play hockey, it's the best place for you if you have a broken thumb. Ignoring or abusing a broken thumb can set you up for permanent damage down the road, from nerve injuries to inability to use the...
Whether you are playing basketball, skiing or sledding, a minor miscalculation can bend your thumb way out of bounds. Although not typically considered a critical injury, thumb hyperextension can be painful and debilitating. The associated pain is...
Goalies in lacrosse, soccer and ice hockey constantly are under pressure from offensive players who can shoot with speed and velocity. Goalies in lacrosse and hockey where several levels of protective equipment, but their thumbs are vulnerable....
Thumb injuries can take on many forms -- including dislocation, sprains or fractures. Depending on the severity of your injury, it may take weeks or months for your thumb to heal. As part of your rehabilitation process, you may be referred to a...
Splints for the thumb are used only when a victim must be moved by non-emergency medical personnel. Signs and symptoms of an injured thumb include pain, swelling, redness, an inability to move the thumb and bones protruding out of the skin. There...
Splints are used to immobilize an extremity that has been injured. The injury can be a broken bone or a severe sprain. Splinting provides stabilization of the injury, some amount of pain relief and prevention of further injury. Splints are often...
Working with dumbbells, which are free weights attached to tubular handles, is an effective way to build muscle mass and strength via resistance. Doing a dumbbell curl involves lifting the weight with your hand by bending your elbow. Dumbbell...
An avulsion fracture occurs when a tendon pulls off a piece of a bone, usually from a forceful collision. It is a common injury in sports, particularly in the thumb area. Without any other damage, these types of fractures heal rather simply and...
When you need to tape a sprained thumb, you will use a tape that is 3.5 cm (1.5 inches) wide. Begin wrapping the thumb by placing the end of tape on the front of the wrist. Wrap the tape around the wrist to the back of the hand and into the web...
Jiu jitsu can be hard on your thumbs and other digits. In some cases, a compliance lock directly attacks your thumb. In others, a misapplied or unfortunate grip will twist your thumb in its socket. In still others, the simple fatigue and pressure...
Skier's thumb happens when the ligament that holds the bones together tears. The name comes from skiers who turn their thumbs backwards during a fall or maneuver. This can be a disabling problem, as the thumb controls a large portion of hand...
Taping your thumb for volleyball will protect an injured thumb from further injury. It will also help prevent injury by preventing you from hyperextending your thumb, or bending it backwards. The key to successfully taping your thumb is in...
Osteoarthritis is the wear and tear breakdown of cartilage in a joint. Osteoarthritis of the thumb can occur with thumb injury or excessive stress from repetitive movements that involve the thumb. This can cause pain, swelling, tenderness or a...
Finger braces, or splints, are devices used to immobilize or partially immobilize fingers to allow injuries to heal and protect against re-injury. Wearing finger braces can also be part of an ongoing program to help fight the degenerative impacts...
Used for thousands of years throughout northern Asia, the Mongolian composite bow is a masterwork of engineering. This type of bow differs from the more widely recognized European long bow, which consisted of a single, long piece of shaped wood....
The thumb has a loose joint mechanism that allows it a wide range of mobility. This makes it vulnerable to injury. Due to the close proximity of muscles, ligaments and tendons, identifying a sprain or strain can be difficult. A sprain involves...
A torn ligament in the thumb usually affects the ulnar collateral ligament, which is used to pinch and grasp. The ulnar collateral ligament also stabilizes the thumb so it doesn't hyper-extend, or bend too far. An ulnar collateral ligament tear is...
A jammed thumb is technically a sprain, or an injured ligament. The ligaments are connective tissue in that hold the joints together. When you push the thumb backward, the tissue can tear. This is a common injury in sports such as wrestling. The...
A punching bag provides an effective workout for boxers and fitness enthusiasts alike. Hitting a punch bag will condition the muscles of your arms, shoulders, chest and core--your abdominal muscles, waist and lower back--as well as burn plenty of...
Trigger thumb, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition that involves the tendons and tendon sheaths in the thumb. Trigger thumb occurs when the patient first bends the finger, and then tries to straighten the finger and the finger...
A finger sprain is an injury to the ligaments that support your finger. Stretching or tearing the soft tissues that connect your finger muscles to the bone can produce pain, swelling and joint instability. You have a higher than normal risk of...
Ligaments play a critical role in skeletal mechanics by connecting and supporting your bones. These tough, white, fibrous bands also support internal organs such as your bladder and liver. The ulnar collateral ligament is in your thumb and is...
A jammed thumb does not have to limit your strength-training routine. Speak with your doctor to rule out a break in your thumb before you exercise. If it is only a jam, alter your workout program until your thumb heals. Usually with this injury,...
Injuries are common in any sport. Here are a few tips for preventing skier's thumb in this video.
Learn how to use ski poles in this free beginner skiing lesson on video.