Trigger Finger

Occupational trigger finger is a type of cumulative trauma disorder and is recognized as an occupational disease by OSHA. Repetitive pressure applied to the A1 pulley causes hyperplasia of synovial cells in the tendon sheath, and if prolonged, tendon nodules form. Vibrating tools (such as grinders and rock drills) amplify friction at the tendon-sheath interface, causing the condition to develop faster than with general gripping work. Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective In Korean medicine, prolonged hand use is classified as fatigue injury resulting from the excessive depletion of vital energy (Qi). When the circulatory pathways of the hands and arms are continuously stimulated, Qi and blood become stagnant, leading to the accumulation of clotted blood. Furthermore, as the organs governing muscles and tendons become fatigued, the self-repairing capacity of the tissues surrounding the tendon sheath decreases. At Dongjedang, we enhance anti-inflammatory effects using bee venom and pharmacopuncture after separating adhesions with needle acupuncture, and we also provide guidance on managing workload during treatment. The key is to extend the interval between recurrences by combining this with constitution-tailored herbal medicine that corrects clotted blood and Qi deficiency.