Hand Pulley Injuries

The Hand pulley system is made of thickened points of the flexor tendon sheath along each finger.

There are five flexor tendon pulleys in the fingers that are named A1-A5, and consists of annular ligament pulleys, and cruciate pulleys i.e. The flexor tendon pulley system.

• The primary role of the flexor pulley system is to convert linear translation and force in the muscle-tendon into rotation and torque at the finger joints.

• The pulleys create efficient mechanics for your fingers by maximizing the amount of finger flexion gained per muscle contraction length. Without pulleys, the tendon would pull away from the joint’s axis of rotation during flexion and decrease the functionality of the system.

• The pulleys allow us to selectively bend the PIP or DIP joints by fractionating movement at our finger.

A common injury in climbing and martial arts athletes, it can be classified in 3 grades.

Grade I: Sprain in the finger ligament.

• Symptoms: Pain at the pulley, Pain when squeezing or climbing

Grade II: Partial rupture of the pulley.

• Symptoms: Pain at the pulley, pain while extending the finger and while climbing

Grade III: Complete rupture of the pulley causing bowstring of the tendon.

• Symptoms: pain at the pulley, heard a pop or crack sound, swelling, pain when squeezing or climbing, pain during finger extension. Bowstringing of the tendon,

If you are suffering from a pulley injury, our physiotherapists will be able to help get you back to your sport. Book in at Horizon Physiotherapy on (08) 9245 7007 or admin@horizonphysio.com.au