Thank you for this post. It is VERY helpful to have something I can do myself for this. Being a violinist "waiting for it to get worse" is just not an option. Thank you!
I'm so glad I found this video. I've noticed my dup about three two months ago, I'm hoping this works because, no one wants to loose the use of their hands. Thank you and if you have any others you would like to share, I would love to see them! Lol
Thank you so much Kelly! With COVID, my doctor isn’t doing any procedures for the time being and my contracture is slightly worse, so I’m hoping that these exercises will slow down the progress. You mentioned that there are many more exercises. I’d love it if you could please do a part III for us. 😊 🤟💖
I’m so sorry to hear, make sure to keep stretching daily as part of a maintenance routine!! I’ll definitely make a part 3 one of these days. Let me know if you have any questions in the meantime! Thank you!
That was helpful just figured out this is what I got kept thinking just a cyst so I kept trying to pop or drain with a needle neither helped. So thank you
I'm so glad!! I remember being on my level II fieldwork and having NO resources except the Indiana protocols book lol. If you ever have any questions or want to discuss hand therapy stuff feel free to reach out, I love connecting with fellow hand therapists!
Awesome video! Today I went to go see a specialist for my hand and the Dr. told me I have Dupuytren contraction. The Dr. Did not recommend surgery since I am so young, and he said that the likely hood if it coming back is very likely. Since mine is causing pain on my palm when I put pressure on it he recommend I take a cortisone shot. I took the shot, right now it's too soon to tell if it relived the pain. I am definitely going to do all the stretches you recommend. Again thank you for the video.
Thank you! Dupuytren's runs in my family; my mum, her brother and sister and their father (my grandfather) all have or had it so I was rather expecting it myself. Last August I fractured my left wrist. It is obviously still healing and is far from as it was pre-fracture. In March of this year - seven months post-fracture I noticed the tell tale bumps in my palm about an inch below the point where my little and ring fingers meet, and the slight tightness. I consulted 'Dr Google' and I read that whilst an injury such as I experienced cannot cause Dupuytren's, it can accelerate its progression, which it seems it has. Most commonly it starts in men after 50 years of age, I am female and 46 when it first became apparent - I do like to challenge stereotypes! So I thought I'd do whatever I could to ease its progression. I'm hoping this will have a positive effect.
Dear Lay , I have the Dupuytren on my right hand. I play tennis and use my right hand. I wonder if playing tennis makes the condition worse. I thank you for good vidoes. Best regards
Thank you for the helpful stretching tips. I'm a 57-year-old white male and I've had 2 DC nodules on my left palm only (dominate hand) for about 4 years thinking they were just calluses. I now know this is a common mistake people make. After noticing that these calluses didn't flake, peel, or diminish in any way. I got suspicious and started looking online for what this could be, and here I am. I have full movement of my fingers and can pass the table test. I went to a hand surgeon a couple of weeks ago and that was kind of a bummer. He couldn't tell me much, I'm in the "Let's keep an eye on it" category. No one in my family has this, but at least I know I'm not alone with this weird condition.
If you only have nodules, then it’s possible that injections of triamcinolone (a steroid) will help soften them and reduce their size. There’s some good research that shows the injections are very effective at reducing nodule size and hardness. Seek advice from a specialist who deals with dupuytrens to see if it’s an option for you.
I recently had surgery on my right hand. Dupuytren’s had impacted my pinkie, ring and a large nodule at the base of my thumb. I using massage & your stretches on “gentle” and expect good results. Thanks for the guidance!
Ive had Dupes in the right hand for about nine years: it’s been a problem only this year. I lay in bed at night watching TV and place my hands between my but and the bed: I find the bed enables a firm yet supple continuous stretch. For the last few nights, I’ve worn a splint while sleeping. In the morning, after I remove the splint I gently warm my fingers up to their fullest range. It’s only been a couple of days, but my fingers are much better. Before the splints, it’s as if the Dupes grows exponentially at night: it feels like I’m preventing the growth at night. I’m going to track the progress and see. My left hand only started last year, so massage and yoga are adequate for now. Thanks for the video - you’re very charming.
The hands rest in a curled posture at night, so naturally in the morning they’ll be more stiff. Glad you’ve found some good stretches and splinting! Hope it helps!
Dam Dr Kelly your voice which you say isn't working is totally working for me amsr wise. And I've learned I don't have trigger finger of the pinky, I have dupuytrens I think but I do have lump on my palm and it's quite painful maybe 6/7 out of 10
Sorry to hear that! Be very gentle with it, it seems natural to want to be aggressive with stretching, mobilization, etc, but it can actually make things worse. But do stretch gently to maintain flexibility. When it's really hurting, I'd try ice or heat to see if that helps at all.
Hi Kelly Thanks for this valuable information. I am consultant in physiotherapy and I am receiving some cases of Dupuytren disease. My way during this days to use shockwave therapy with using stretching exercises and local massage. I hop I can help this kind of patients
I wish it had a cure, but thank you cuz i over think so much and i have axiaty over my health so i get worride a lot and espeshualy cozid is happening and hospitals are full so thank you for this i got this last year around the end of november
Definitely the sexiest Dupuytren's therapy video out there. I've only looked at two, but I'm fairly confident in that judgement. I wonder if there's any real evidence out there? My GP didn't allude to physical therapy, even Bob and Brad don't recommend it. But it would seem logical that regularly working against the contracture should help. I expect everyone with the condition does this in idle moments. The secret has to be in making it a really regular routine. Most of us are old men, so it's not like we've got much else to do.
I just would like to make everybody aware off the information I have got from very respected surgeon here in Germany that the stretching should be avoided at all costs because it is very likely to stimulate the disease. It’s a no it’s a problem of hovor repairing and stretching is causing additional trauma to the aponeurosis which should be avoided. I’m not a medical specialist but one of the best specialist in Germany told me this very clearly.
Hi Kelly, I'm from Perú (so no only celtic people have this condition) I was really worried about found that I have this Dupuytren issue on my hand, even that does not have cure, your video calm me down I'm looking hopelly on my country will be doctors can help me, thank you good exercises ;)
Yeah! It must be overwhelming and scary knowing there isn’t a cure yet. Keep moving, massaging, and stretching and hopefully it helps! Best of luck to you!
Thank you, I have very mild Dupuytren's (no pain, but obvious nodules in between my pinky / ring finger - dominant hand). I'll use these tips - AND, I do volunteer stuff with Senior Citizens that can't afford OT, I'm going to pass on your ideas. Thx!!
Thank you for this information it definitely helpful. But if the condition is just starting and fingers are still fine can these exercises help stop the contraction of fingers?❤
It is unfortunately not completely preventative, this condition will progress in some people and not in others. Stretching gently is meant to keep the tissues flexible but there is no evidence suggesting it stops the condition from progressing, and if it’s too aggressive it can make it worse
If a tendon is ruptured, you need to see a hand surgeon to discuss possible repair or other treatment options. If a tendon is truly not attached, the joint will never be able to move again without surgery
My DC was brought on (sort of) by a dislocation injury of my ring finger. I went to ot for that initial injury for almost a year (which was misdiagnosed as a boutonniere deformity, which I have naturally and I notice you do as well). I am SO angry, as I know this is NOT hereditary. I believe the misdiagnosis, thus the OT treating it as such has created this. Hope your stretches help me get back to full mobility.
So sorry to hear about this! Dupuytrens contractures are still being learned about a lot and there are a lot of things that can potentially bring it on. It is likely not realistic to expect a DC to regain full mobility as it progresses to shortening of the connective tissue and skin, due to abnormal fascia. Aggressive stretching is not recommended, please be gentle!! Best of luck to you!
@@ForwardTherapy I did your exercises several times throughout the day yesterday and some this morning. It actually not only looks better but feels amazing. I believe that what is occurring in my hand isn't typical DC (no one related to me has it and I am the youngest in a HUGE family) and I will keep believing it can be stretched out. I don't expect my ring finger to fully unbend due to the length of time that has passed since I injured it last October (2021) and all the manipulation and irritation it has endured. But the palm and pinky finger weren't like this until after I started OT. I have documented by photos how things progressively worsened since my first OT visit and all of the treatment that was given starting in January 2022 until I stopped going in early October 2022. I'll keep you informed as to my progress. Thank you again..and I will be gentle. 🙂
Thanks for sharing the stretches. I have developed nodules on my left palm underneath my ring finger over the past few years. I am a guitar player and am almost certain it was caused by excessive force and strain by pushing down on the fretboard. Now I have trouble making a fist and have been searching for ways to deal with and manage this condition. Does this condition always get progressively worse or is it something that can be managed? If I continue to play guitar will it get worse as well?
Dupuytrens disease has no cure at this time, unfortunately. Typically doctors will recommend either “maintenance” which means you keep watching it and if it gets worse they may decide to do treatment, or they’ll do some sort of procedure (whether that be surgery, injection, etc) to attempt to manage the condition and prevent contracture of the fingers that make it difficult to bend or straighten the digits. Even with surgical procedure, it can reoccur. It is not necessarily caused by repetitive strain, more linked to genetics (as is my understanding) and certain factors may bring it out. Have you been diagnosed with dupuytrens? Nodules are also common in trigger finger.
Forward Therapy thanks for the response. I have not been diagnosed with Dupuytrens. I tried getting an appointment before the Coronavirus with a specialist with no luck and now that we’re in the pandemic, I’m going to wait until seeing the doctor. Dupuytrens seems like the closest thing to what I have with the hand nodules, but I know without an actual diagnoses it could be anything. My main issue is that I can no longer make a fist with my left hand (where the two nodules are on my palm).
That sounds so frustrating! The first sign of dupuytrens is usually the hard nodules in the palm. I would recommend heating the hand (warm water soak, sock filled with uncooked rice in the microwave, etc) for a few minutes, maybe some gentle massage by rolling the palm on a tennis ball or water bottle, and then gentle passive stretches (where you gently bend the joints of the stiff fingers using the other hand to control the motion). Keep stretching throughout the day to keep the hands from getting stiff!
@@ForwardTherapy Thanks so much! I will definitely try these suggestions out! That's my hope for now, is to retain as much movement in my hand so I can keep playing guitar.
Thanks explains a lot...I recently had an accident of cutting tendon in middle finger and undergone surgery of joining tendon. Now I can't fold my middle finger and also my nerve is stiff and very thick...Is this dupuytrens contracture or can I relief from massaging the nerve? @Forward therapy
I'd check with your doctor - I can't diagnose via the internet and without being able to see and feel the hand it'd be hard for me to give you accurate info!
Thanks these feel really good. I’ve been aware of these weird knots on my palms for a few years, but only found about DC recently. I’m a full-time musician, and I’ve also got some ulnar nerve entrapment going on - so I’m worried about potentially needing various surgeries at some point. I saw an injection mentioned in your previous video, would love to know more about this option. Thanks again!
Typically injections are collagenase injections (they inject the cords and then manipulate the tissues typically a day later to break up the cords). It has good results but it has higher chance of recurrence than surgery (as far as I’ve seen) and also can be expensive!
Would double check with your surgeon, but generally starting with gentle active motion (like making a fist, spreading the fingers apart and together, etc) are good ways to start!
It depends! I’ve seen people have pretty close to straight finger, and also people that haven’t. Depends on each unique case and finger (even within the same hand, can have different results). Best to talk to the surgeon prior to get a good sense of realistic expectation for each case.
Be careful everybody. There is still no evidence that even gentle “stretching” doesn’t do more harm than good. We need better studies on this. Well-meaning surgeons want to cut. Well-meaning OT’s want to stretch. Listen to your own body and join some of the patient groups on Facebook for more tips.
Sorry ,did that every day 3 times a day and after a year go to the operating room ,,sucks Not WORT it , doing early not when you getting 1 year older😡👎😢😢
Horrible, degenerative disease, with no cure or even consistently effective treatment. Hopefully as this becomes more common, a discovery that actually reverses the growth of nodules and collagen cords will be forthcoming.
