Hand Trigger Points Abductor Digiti Minimi

Hand Pain from Trigger Points

There are multiple causes of hand pain besides hand muscle trigger points. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common and widely known conditions to cause pain in the hand and fingers; especially with the thumb, second digit, and third digit. Patients describe the pain, numbness, tingling, burning, in fatigue associated with the median nerve entrapment.

However there are additional sources of hand pain that can occur on both the palmar and dorsal aspects of the hand. The abductor digiti minimi trigger point can refer pain across the hand. Patients also complain of weakness and fatigue with repetitive activity. They may or may not be dropping glasses or have difficulty with fine motor movements especially when they are repeated several times. The pain is different than with De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis or any tendonitis of the hand.

Additional nerve entrapments in the hand include ulnar nerve entrapment syndrome, syndrome of the tendinous arch of that abductor pollicis muscle, superficial branch of the radial nerve, Wartenberg’s Syndrome, distal posterior interosseous nerve syndrome, and digital collateral nerve syndrome.

Palpation of the abductor digiti minimi hand trigger point reproduces the pain across the palmer or dorsal aspect of the hand. Drenching or resistance may reproduce symptoms. It is not uncommon to have abductor digiti minimi hand trigger points when the person presents with trigger thumb or trigger finger in the same hand.

Treatment involves muscle therapy to decrease the trigger point intensity and restore proper muscle function. Manual therapy, massage therapy, Active Release Technique, and Graston Technique are therapeutic options. These treatments address the scar tissue and fascial adhesions found within the hand and some muscles from chronic repetitive activities.

Many providers are qualified and trained to treat these conditions including hand therapists, occupational therapists sports therapists, physical therapists, and chiropractors. There a many excellent massage therapists who are highly trained and skilled well-dressed the affected muscle on the anterior and posterior aspect of the hand in addition to the forearm musculature.

Many hand injuries can occur with with either acute trauma or injury. But many also occur with chronic repetitive activities such as typing, yard work, occupational activities, or recreational sports.

Overall this is a condition that be successfully treated by many providers. When this condition occurs the focus should be on resolving the activities that led to the development of the abductor digiti minimi trigger point. Addressing the home, work, and recreational activities can prevent this from occurring in the future.

Our Chandler Chiropractic & Physical Therapy Clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.