A finger sprain results when the ligaments holding the finger’s bones are strained or ripped. It happens for various reasons, such as sports injuries, accidental falls, or repetitive strain. Understanding the signs and symptoms of finger sprains is essential for early identification and appropriate treatment.
Whether you are an athlete, an active individual, or someone who experiences an occasional accident, finger sprains can be pretty common and disruptive. This blog will delve into finger sprains, exploring the symptoms, causes, and treatment options available.
Causes
Finger injuries are a common occurrence for us humans, and among them, sprained fingers are particularly prevalent, especially for those engaged in sports activities.
Athletes such as goalkeepers, volleyball, and basketball players are especially susceptible to this type of injury, often experiencing hyperextension, where the hands bend too backward.
A sprained finger can also result from an unfortunate fall, notably when awkwardly landing on a hand. Finger sprains may be more common in people with naturally brittle ligaments or poor coordination.
Symptoms
A sprained finger often comes with a significant amount of pain and swelling. It is not uncommon to experience stiffness or tenderness in the joints of your finger. It’s important to note that sprains primarily involve damage to the soft tissues rather than the bones, which means they do not result in fractures.
If you suspect a bone fracture, it is no longer a sprain but a broken finger, necessitating immediate medical attention. Additional symptoms accompanying a sprained finger include redness, difficulty flexion or extension, throbbing sensations, and bruising.
Treatment
A professional may need to treat severe sprains. Mild to severe sprains can easily be treated at home with readily available supplies.
The most popular at-home treatment for mild sprains, RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), is described in detail below.
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Rest
Starting this approach involves temporarily limiting the movement of the afflicted finger. For best results, you can rest it for a few hours each day. This is done to prevent movements from your wounded finger.
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Ice
This step involves applying an ice pack to an injured finger with tape or a cloth-wrapped ice pack. When doing this, you must be careful to avoid putting the finger in direct touch with the skin or icing it for an extended period of time.
Only use the ice pack for fifteen minutes at a time, and then wait twenty minutes before applying it again. If the finger gets worse while being iced, such as becoming number or more inflamed, remove the ice.
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Compression
Hampton Adams carries both athletic tape or an elastic bandage to wrap the finger. This will lessen inflammation while assisting in providing sufficient compression. Avoid wrapping your finger too tightly as this could make the situation worse.
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Elevation
Try to elevate or keep the injured finger in a position above the heart. Both sitting and lying down are acceptable positions for using a sling and a pillow.
Alternate Options
- Finger braces: Walk-in stores frequently stock finger braces. Using them will assist in keeping you from making aggravated motions that could harm you.
- Exercise: You should exercise your finger after significantly reducing pain and inflammation. It can be harmful to try to exercise your finger while it is swollen.
- Medication: You can manage the discomfort by taking acetaminophen, aspirin, and painkillers like ibuprofen.
- Surgery: Surgery may be needed to repair the damaged tissues in severe sprains where the ligament is completely torn. After surgery, you may still need a splint or the buddy taping technique.
- Splint: a supporting device that covers an injury or damaged bone.
- Tape,e., buddy taping
Here’s How Tape Can Help
On the fingers, many kinds of self-adhesive athletic tape can be applied; athletic tape is the material of choice.
Athletic tape is a pressure-sensitive tape that offers a range of features designed to prevent injuries and alleviate pain. Explicitly addressing the relief of pain caused by a sprained finger, let’s delve into its notable features.
Athletic tape comes in two variants: elastic and inelastic. The flexible type is generally preferred because it provides varying degrees of compression and facilitates unrestricted movement.
In recent years, companies like Hampton Adams have introduced innovative sweat-proof athletic tapes explicitly designed for fingers. The effectiveness of such products can be discerned from their specialized nature. For instance, our Hampton Adams 8-pack of white finger tape is meticulously crafted to ensure optimal comfort. Unlike other brands that incorporate blends, it is exclusively made from 100% cotton substrate. We acknowledge that pure cotton can only achieve the ultimate tactile experience.
Furthermore, our tape contains only hypoallergenic and medical-grade materials, making it safe for sensitized individuals. Additionally, it is latex-free, significantly reducing the risk of allergic reactions.
Designed to be elastic, our tape offers exceptional comfort and flexibility. Despite its elasticity, it remains securely in place, allowing unrestricted movement and maximum comfort.
Unlike other brands, Hampton Adams finger tape is remarkably sticky yet leaves no residue. Our unique formula ensures no tacky glue remains on your skin after use. Furthermore, the adhesive is gentle and does not cause skin irritation, making it particularly suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.
Our tape is easy to cut, providing added convenience during emergencies. You can effortlessly manipulate it with your fingers, whether tearing it lengthwise or widthwise.
Taping your finger can be beneficial in reducing inflammation, alleviating pain, and promoting proper movement. The widely adopted method for taping a sprained finger is buddy taping.
Buddy Taping
To stop and assist its movement, this method entails taping the damaged finger to a healthy one. Make sure the swelling has decreased before applying tape to the finger; this should happen roughly 48 hours after the incident.
- You will require a small rectangle of cotton or trauma pads and a roll of finger tape. Unlike Hampton Adams finger tape, you will also need a tape cutter if you cannot tear the tape with your hand.
- Long enough to wrap around the two fingers, cut two tape strips.
- Two strips should be wrapped, one below the afflicted area and the other above it, around the two fingers. Place the cotton or trauma pads between the fingers at the point where they rub against each other. This will help prevent friction-related pain.
- Avoid wrapping the fingers too tightly, as it can restrict blood circulation. Remove the tape once the finger is fully healed.
Buddy taping can facilitate simple actions, making them easier to perform. However, it may pose challenges when attempting movements that could worsen your condition. If the tape becomes wet or damaged, it is advisable to replace it. Additionally, incorporating anti-inflammatory medication with this technique can expedite recovery.
Splinting a Sprained Finger
Buddy taping is a less restrictive method than splinting a finger that has been strained. You don’t need to wait two days before using a splint, unlike buddy taping.
If you don’t have a ready-made splint, you can use any clean object that is roughly the length of your injured finger. Make sure the sling crosses the afflicted joint when you place it on the bottom of your wounded finger.
- Athletic tape is used to secure the splint to the finger. Wrap it tightly both at the top and bottom.
- Even after splinting, you can frequently apply an ice pack to the finger. Put it on the finger after first wrapping it in a towel. Keep in mind to space out the icing process.
- To speed up the procedure, you can also use painkillers or anti-inflammatories.
To ensure proper care for your splint, it is recommended to avoid getting it wet whenever possible. It’s best to cover your hand with a plastic bag when you need to take a bath to keep the splint out of the water.
It is essential to wear the sling for the entire duration necessary for your finger to recover or as instructed by your doctor. If your condition worsens, seek professional assistance and refrain from attempting to trim the splint yourself.
At Hampton Adams, we prioritize our customers above all else. That’s why we meticulously craft all our products, including the 8-pack of BJJ finger tape, to the highest quality standards. If you need top-notch finger tape that offers comfort and effectiveness for your sprained finger, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can also visit our website for more information.
Our finger tape comes with a 120-day money-back guarantee!
