If you have spent any time playing sports, then at some point, you have probably already suffered a sprained finger or sprained knuckle. It often happens when you are trying to catch a ball that someone throws at you as your finger is not in the right place and the ball hits the top of the finger or hits it in a weird spot.
A few minutes later you will notice that you can barely bend that finger because it is starting to swell up so much. When this happens to most athletes, they assume rest will heal it and make it go away, but that is not always the case. Here is everything you need to know about a sprained, knuckle finger or sprained knuckle.
Anatomy of Jammed Finger | Sprained Finger | Sprained Knuckle
A sprain always happens to the ligaments of structure whether it be a finger sprain or an ankle sprain. The joints of the fingers where movement occurs are all surrounded by ligaments that be sprained by being overstretched. A knuckle sprain is just a type of finger sprain. When you suffer a knuckle sprain, it just means that you sprained the ligaments of the knuckle like pictured above.
Causes of Jammed Finger | Sprained Finger | Sprained Knuckle
A finger sprain is always caused by impact to the finger that is more than the structures can handle. A blow to the end of the finger often forces pressure up the finger through the joints causing stress to the ligaments. This stress causes hyperextension that stretches or tears the ligaments of the finger.
Sports like basketball where you regularly have to catch passes tend to be the causes of finger sprains. It just takes being off trying to catch a ball by an inch, and you can damage a ligament. Anyone can suffer a sprained finger or sprained knuckle though. It could happen to break a fall or just hitting your finger into something randomly.
What Are The Symptoms of a Jammed Finger | Sprained Finger | Sprained Knuckle
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Limited mobility
- Pain
- Joint instability
There are three different grades of finger sprains. Grade 1 being mild and experiencing the above symptoms at a lesser level. Grade 3 being the greatest where there can be a complete tear of ligaments and the symptoms experienced are the most extreme.
Treatment of a Jammed Finger | Sprained Finger | Sprained Knuckle
A sprained finger is one injury that you do not need to see a doctor for right away. It is a common injury that can be taken care of at home. Where you should be concerned is if you think you have a grade three sprain. If after a few days of nursing a sprained knuckle, you are noticing that there is no improvment, you should consider getting some help.
A doctor may get you to bend the fingers so they can evaluate the sprained finger. They may even order an X-ray for you to rule out any broken bones or dislocations.
Treatment Options Include
- Rest
- Ice
- Elevation
- Surgery (for complete tears)
- Moving finger as much as possible without pain
- Dipping finger or hand in cold water
- Finger Splint
Prevention of Jammed Finger | Sprained Finger | Sprained Knuckle
The best thing you can do to prevent a sprained finger is to pay attention to what you are doing. Often when you are not in the moment, and you are thinking about others things and therefore cause you to make mistakes. In a game of basketball, you could be thinking past catching the ball because you mind on shooting. What you should do is focus on the catch and then transition to making the shot. Finger sprains are treatable injuries, but they are also annoying and take you out of the game for a bit.
Finding The Best Local Sports Medicine Providers for a Jammed Finger Rehab
9INE POINT Health is the best place to start your search for a health care provider to help you stay healthy. The key to success as an athlete is staying healthy and making sure the injuries are dealt with appropriately. Any athlete that runs a lot is at more risk of a sprained finger, and the key to success as an athlete is staying healthy.
9INE POINT Health lets you search for providers by type and skill. For example, you can look for a Physical Therapist with any skill set you need. It does not matter what kind of provider you need, 9INE POINT Health can help you find them and help you to sort through their skills.
If you are unsure where to start your journey, 9INE POINT Health will ask you questions and help you figure out the best starting place. All you have to do is answer a few questions. From there, 9INE POINT Health will connect you with the type of provider best suited for your needs. It does not matter if you are injured or making sure you don’t run into a sprained knuckle.
The platform makes it easy to compare health providers as they are all given a 9INE POINT Number. How do you decide which healthcare providers are the best? Reading bios and reviews is just not enough because you need more than that.
Skill Sets to Look for In Sports Medicine Providers When Dealing with a Sprained Finger or Sprained Knuckle
Skill sets are the things healthcare providers learn after they graduate. A healthcare provider can take courses and get certifications for different skill sets. These skill sets are valuable and help them approach injuries from different perspectives so that you can get the best help at the right time for any jammed finger issues.
- Dry needling
- Acupuncture
- Joint Manipulation
- Active Release Technique
- Graston Technique
- Functional Movement Screen
- Fascial Stretching
- Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Athletic Trainer
- Sports Background
- And many more
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
9INE POINT Health was created by 9INE POINT in '19 as a means to provide athlete-driven resources to "Protect Athletes' Minds, Body and Belly". As well as be a platform for healthcare providers and other specialists to display their knowledge.