Overview	Diagnosis
	Treatment Options

Overview

A finger sprain usually results from a blow to the finger. This often occurs during athletic activity when an athlete jams a finger into another person, the ball, or piece of equipment. Finger sprain may also occur from falling on the hand.

You increase your risk of spraining your finger if you have these risk factors:

playing sports, especially those involving the hands, such as basketball or volleyball

poor coordination

poor balance

Diagnosis

Symptoms of a finger sprain include:

pain and tenderness in the finger

pain when moving the finger joint

swelling of the finger joint

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and how you injured your finger. The doctor will examine your finger to assess the stability of the joint and the severity of the injury. Tests may include:

x-rays to make sure that no bones are broken

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to see if a ligament has torn completely (rarely needed)
Finger sprains are graded according to their severity:

Grade 1

stretching and microtearing of ligament tissue

Grade 2

partial tearing of ligament tissue

mild instability of the joint

Grade 3

severe or complete tearing of ligament tissue

significant instability of the joint

Treatment Options

Treatment includes:

rest
Avoid using the injured finger.

ice
Apply ice or a cold pack to your finger for 15 to 30 minutes, four times a day for several days or until the pain goes away. This helps reduce pain and swelling. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin.

compression
Wrap an elastic compression bandage around your finger. This will limit swelling and support your finger.

elevation
Try to hold the injured hand above the level of your heart as much as possible for the first 24 hours. You may consider propping your hand on a pillow. This will help drain fluid and reduce swelling.

medication
Take one of the following drugs to help reduce inflammation and pain:
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
acetaminophen (Tylenol)
aspirin

splinting and taping
You may need to wear a splint to immobilize your finger. If you play sports, you may need to tape your injured finger to the finger next to it when you return to play.

surgery
Surgery is only needed to repair a finger sprain if a small piece of bone has been broken off by the injury to the ligament or if a ligament is torn completely

How can I prevent a finger sprain?
Unfortunately, finger sprains are usually the result of a traumatic event as opposed to overuse, so they cannot be prevented.

Improving Sports Performance
The key to improving sports performance after recovering from a finger sprain is a proper rehabilitation program, and adhering to some of those same principles after the injury is gone.

Here are some simple steps to improve your performance:

Use tape to prevent extension of the finger beyond its normal range of motion (hyperextension).

Perform the exercises in the rehabilitation section to restore strength and range of motion.

Rehabilitation for a finger sprain
As an athlete, your number one concern is getting back to full strength as soon as possible so that you can return to training and competition. That is why appropriate rehabilitation is extremely important. Rehabilitation for a finger sprain often includes the following:

Rest
Avoid using the inured finger.

Ice
Apply ice or a cold pack to your finger for 15-20 minutes, 4 times a day until swelling and pain are gone. Wrap the ice or cold pack in a towel. Do not apply the ice directly to your skin.

Compression
Wrap an elastic compression bandage around the finger to limit swelling.

Elevation
Keep the injured finger raised above the level of your heart for 48 hours (such as up on a pillow). This will help drain fluid and reduce swelling.

Medication
Use anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen to reduce inflammation and speed up recovery.

Exercises for a finger sprain
Rehabilitation for a finger sprain is a matter of following prescribed treatment until symptoms disappear. However, the following exercises may aid in restoring strength and range of motion to the injured hand, especially in cases where immobilization of the injured finger is required.

Ball squeeze
Place a tennis ball or equivalent in the palm of the injured hand and squeeze as forcefully as pain permits for five seconds. Slowly relax the hand. Rest for five seconds. Repeat 10 times at least three times a day. Generally, the more often the sequence can be repeated in a day, the better. From day to day, pain should subside until the point where the exercise can be done without pain.

Finger extension
Place hand, palm forward, on a wall or other flat surface. Press the palm toward the flat surface as fully as pain permits and hold for five seconds. Return to starting position and rest for five seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times at least three times a day. Generally, the more often the sequence can be repeated in a day, the better. From day to day, pain should subside until the point where the exercise can be done without pain.

How long will the effects of the injury last?
As long as the injury does not include a broken bone or dislocation; pain, swelling, and inflammation usually are gone or significantly reduced within three to five days. If there is a broken bone, you may need to wear a splint or cast for three to six weeks; even after this period there may be some pain or swelling, which may persist for weeks.

When can I return to my sport or activity?
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your sport or activity as soon as is safely possible. If you return too soon you may worsen your injury, which could lead to permanent damage. Return to your activity is determined by how soon your finger sprain recovers and full range of motion is restored, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred.

Usually, with the injured finger taped to an adjacent uninjured finger, you may return to play within minutes of sustaining a mild finger sprain - as long as pain permits.

With severe sprains, pain and swelling may last two or more days, despite proper treatment. If the finger is broken, it may take a month or more to return to competition, depending on the severity of the disruption of the joint.