Trigger FingerNCT07482397
A1 Pulley Stretching Along With Tendon Gliding Exercises in Post-operative Patients of Trigger Finger
A study testing A1 pulley stretching, Tendon Gliding exercises and Standard physiotherapy treatment in people with Trigger Finger, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
The study was conducted to determine the synergistic effects of A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises on pain, range of motion, and hand grip strength in post-operative patients of trigger finger Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 36 to 60 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Trigger Finger
- What is being tested?
- A1 pulley stretching, Tendon Gliding exercises and Standard physiotherapy treatment
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- 13 Jan 2025to 31 Oct 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 36 to 60 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Both gender male and female
- Age 35 ≤ 60
- Patients with clear wound and removed stitched
- Symptoms of locking finger for more than 6 months
- Positive Hueston tabletop test
- NPRS score of 4 to 7
Who cannot join
- Finger joint problem by joint fracture
- Recent trauma
- Presence of open wound, local infection
- Known case of tumor
- Congenital and autoimmune disorders
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Pakistan1 site
District Headquarters Hospital
Toba Tek Singh, Punjab Province, 36050
About this study
Official title: Synergistic Effects of A1 Pulley Stretching Along With Tendon Gliding Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, and Hand Grip Strength in Post-operative Patients of Trigger Finger.
The study was conducted to determine the synergistic effects of A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises on pain, range of motion, and hand grip strength in post-operative patients of trigger finger
- Conditions
- Trigger Finger
- Being tested
- A1 pulley stretching, Tendon Gliding exercises, Standard physiotherapy treatment
- Keywords
- Trigger finger, A1 pulley stretching, Tendon- glinding exercises, postoperative rehabilitation, Range of motion, Grip strength, Randomized controlled trial
- Medical subject headings
- Trigger Finger Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
A1 pulley stretchingOther
Participants comfortably seated with the arm supported on a table. The right palm placed on the couch, and the middle fingers positioned alternately on a wooden block at a 45° angle. Participants flex the middle finger while the therapist provides resistance to induce an isometric contraction.
Duration and Repetitions:
- Each stretch: 15-30 seconds
- 10 repetitions per session
- sets with 30-60 seconds rest Frequency: Three times per week during therapy sessions
Tendon Gliding exercisesOther
5 glide × 3 sets:
- Open Palm
- Hook Fist
- Tabletop
- Half Fist
- Full Fist Each glide is performed in a controlled, pain-free manner. Frequency: Three weekly supervised sessions.
Standard physiotherapy treatmentOther
Heat therapy gloves for 10 minutes TENS with frequency of 80-100 Hz at low intensity having pulse duration of 50-80μs for 10 minutes.
Paraffin wax bath at 52 degree centigrade 10 times for 15 minutes a day.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: A1 pulley stretching; Other: Tendon Gliding exercises; Other: Standard physiotherapy treatment |
| Tendon gliding exercises | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Tendon Gliding exercises; Other: Standard physiotherapy treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is used to determine the level of pain in a patient. It gives people an opportunity to self-report their pain levels using a scale of zero to ten, with 0 being the absence of pain and 10 being the worst that can happen. The scale is divided into categories, 1-3 mild pain, 4-6 moderate pain, and 7- 10 severe pain.
Measured: From enrollment to end of treatment 6 weeks
Universal Goniometer
goniometer is a device that is widely utilized in orthopedics and physical therapy to estimate the range of motion of a joint (ROM) and to diagnose range restrictions.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
Hand dynamometer
A hand dynamometer is a tool that is used to measure the grip strength and give a quantitative measure of the muscle activity in the hand and forearm. Through pressing of the handle of the device, the user can measure the force used, and the clinicians can observe the progress and see the changes in the rehabilitation
Measured: From enrollment to the end of treatment for 6 weeks.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Mar 2026
- Study start13 Jan 2025
- Primary completion31 May 2025
- Study completion31 Oct 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (10)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Trigger FingerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Riphah International UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Humera Mubashar, Principal investigator, Riphah International University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07482397
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/24/01110
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 19 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Saito T, Nakamichi R, Nakahara R, Nishida K, Ozaki T. The Effectiveness of Rehabilitation after Open Surgical Release for Trigger Finger: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study. J Clin Med. 2023 Nov 20;12(22):7187. doi: 10.3390/jcm12227187.
PubMed 38002801Abdolrazaghi H, Ramin M, Molaei H. Comparison the Range of Motion Following Early Versus Late Active Mobilization after Repairing Surgery on Flexor Tendon Injury in the Zone II: A Randomized Clinical Trial. World J Plast Surg. 2023;12(2):29-33. doi: 10.52547/wjps.12.2.29.
PubMed 38130384Tanaka S, Uehara K, Sugimura R, Miura T, Ohe T, Tanaka S, Morizaki Y. Evaluation of the first annular pulley stretch effect under isometric contraction of the flexor tendon in healthy volunteers and trigger finger patients using ultrasonography. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 May 6;22(1):421. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04299-1.
PubMed 33957913Dardas AZ, VandenBerg J, Shen T, Gelberman RH, Calfee RP. Long-Term Effectiveness of Repeat Corticosteroid Injections for Trigger Finger. J Hand Surg Am. 2017 Apr;42(4):227-235. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.02.001.
PubMed 28372638Nadar MS. Orthosis vs. exercise for the treatment of adult idiopathic trigger fingers: A randomized clinical trial. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2024 Dec 1;48(6):713-719. doi: 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000294. Epub 2023 Oct 20.
PubMed 37870373Yamazaki A, Matsuura Y, Kuniyoshi K, Suzuki T, Akasaka T, Ozone E, Matsuyama Y, Mukai M, Yamazaki T, Ohara T, Sasho T, Ohtori S. A1 pulley stretching treats trigger finger: A1 pulley luminal region under digital flexor tendon traction. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2020 Feb;72:136-140. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.11.018. Epub 2019 Dec 7.
PubMed 31865255Ahmed E, Atteya MR, Alansari A, Youssef R, Ismail R, Safoury YA, Alrawaili SM, Abutaleb E, Eldesoky M. A randomized controlled trial comparing controlled active motion and early passive mobilization protocols for rehabilitation of repaired flexor tendons in zone II. J Hand Ther. 2025 Oct-Dec;38(4):817-824. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2025.02.014. Epub 2025 Mar 15.
PubMed 40090773Minkhorst K, Munn A, MacDermid J, Grewal R. Does Orthosis Improve Outcomes of Conservative Treatment in Trigger Fingers? A 3-Arm Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2025 Dec;106(12):1798-1806. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2025.05.015. Epub 2025 May 29.
PubMed 40449569Lunsford D, Valdes K, Hengy S. Conservative management of trigger finger: A systematic review. J Hand Ther. 2019 Apr-Jun;32(2):212-221. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2017.10.016. Epub 2017 Dec 28.
PubMed 29290504Chevalley S, Wangberg V, Ahlen M, Stromberg J, Bjorkman A. Passive Mobilization With Place-and-Hold Versus Active Mobilization Therapy After Flexor Tendon Repair: 5-Year Minimum Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Hand Surg Am. 2024 Dec;49(12):1165-1172. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.08.011. Epub 2024 Oct 5.
PubMed 39365244
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 19 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Synergistic Effects of A1 Pulley Stretching Along With Tendon Gliding Exercises on Pain, Range of Motion, and Hand Grip Strength in Post-operative Patients of Trigger Finger.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07482397
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- REC/RCR & AHS/24/01110
- Conditions
- Trigger Finger
- Keywords
- Trigger finger, A1 pulley stretching, Tendon- glinding exercises, postoperative rehabilitation, Range of motion, Grip strength, Randomized controlled trial
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Riphah International UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 13 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 May 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The study was conducted to determine the synergistic effects of A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises on pain, range of motion, and hand grip strength in post-operative patients of trigger finger
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises | Experimental | Other: A1 pulley stretching, Other: Tendon Gliding exercises, Other: Standard physiotherapy treatment |
| Tendon gliding exercises | Active comparator | Other: Tendon Gliding exercises, Other: Standard physiotherapy treatment |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 36 to 60 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Both gender male and female
- Age 35 ≤ 60
- Patients with clear wound and removed stitched
- Symptoms of locking finger for more than 6 months
- Positive Hueston tabletop test
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Finger joint problem by joint fracture
- Recent trauma
- Presence of open wound, local infection
- Known case of tumor
- Congenital and autoimmune disorders
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| A1 pulley stretchingParticipants comfortably seated with the arm supported on a table. The right palm placed on the couch, and the middle fingers positioned alternately on a wooden block at a 45° angle. Participants flex the middle finger while the therapist provides resistance to induce an isometric contraction. Duration and Repetitions: * Each stretch: 15-30 seconds * 10 repetitions per session * sets with 30-60 seconds rest Frequency: Three times per week during therapy sessions | Other | A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises |
| Tendon Gliding exercises5 glide × 3 sets: * Open Palm * Hook Fist * Tabletop * Half Fist * Full Fist Each glide is performed in a controlled, pain-free manner. Frequency: Three weekly supervised sessions. | Other | A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises, Tendon gliding exercises |
| Standard physiotherapy treatmentHeat therapy gloves for 10 minutes TENS with frequency of 80-100 Hz at low intensity having pulse duration of 50-80μs for 10 minutes. Paraffin wax bath at 52 degree centigrade 10 times for 15 minutes a day. | Other | A1 pulley stretching along with tendon gliding exercises, Tendon gliding exercises |
Primary outcome
Numeric Pain Rating Scale
Time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment 6 weeks
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) is used to determine the level of pain in a patient. It gives people an opportunity to self-report their pain levels using a scale of zero to ten, with 0 being the absence of pain and 10 being the worst that can happen. The scale is divided into categories, 1-3 mild pain, 4-6 moderate pain, and 7- 10 severe pain.
Universal Goniometer
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 6 weeks.
goniometer is a device that is widely utilized in orthopedics and physical therapy to estimate the range of motion of a joint (ROM) and to diagnose range restrictions.
Hand dynamometer
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment for 6 weeks.
A hand dynamometer is a tool that is used to measure the grip strength and give a quantitative measure of the muscle activity in the hand and forearm. Through pressing of the handle of the device, the user can measure the force used, and the clinicians can observe the progress and see the changes in the rehabilitation
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 19 Mar 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38002801Saito T, Nakamichi R, Nakahara R, Nishida K, Ozaki T. The Effectiveness of Rehabilitation after Open Surgical Release for Trigger Finger: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study. J Clin Med. 2023 Nov 20;12(22):7187. doi: 10.3390/jcm12227187.
- Background: PubMed 38130384Abdolrazaghi H, Ramin M, Molaei H. Comparison the Range of Motion Following Early Versus Late Active Mobilization after Repairing Surgery on Flexor Tendon Injury in the Zone II: A Randomized Clinical Trial. World J Plast Surg. 2023;12(2):29-33. doi: 10.52547/wjps.12.2.29.
- Background: PubMed 33957913Tanaka S, Uehara K, Sugimura R, Miura T, Ohe T, Tanaka S, Morizaki Y. Evaluation of the first annular pulley stretch effect under isometric contraction of the flexor tendon in healthy volunteers and trigger finger patients using ultrasonography. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 May 6;22(1):421. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04299-1.
- Background: PubMed 28372638Dardas AZ, VandenBerg J, Shen T, Gelberman RH, Calfee RP. Long-Term Effectiveness of Repeat Corticosteroid Injections for Trigger Finger. J Hand Surg Am. 2017 Apr;42(4):227-235. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.02.001.
- Background: PubMed 37870373Nadar MS. Orthosis vs. exercise for the treatment of adult idiopathic trigger fingers: A randomized clinical trial. Prosthet Orthot Int. 2024 Dec 1;48(6):713-719. doi: 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000294. Epub 2023 Oct 20.
- Background: PubMed 31865255Yamazaki A, Matsuura Y, Kuniyoshi K, Suzuki T, Akasaka T, Ozone E, Matsuyama Y, Mukai M, Yamazaki T, Ohara T, Sasho T, Ohtori S. A1 pulley stretching treats trigger finger: A1 pulley luminal region under digital flexor tendon traction. Clin Biomech (Bristol). 2020 Feb;72:136-140. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.11.018. Epub 2019 Dec 7.
- Background: PubMed 40090773Ahmed E, Atteya MR, Alansari A, Youssef R, Ismail R, Safoury YA, Alrawaili SM, Abutaleb E, Eldesoky M. A randomized controlled trial comparing controlled active motion and early passive mobilization protocols for rehabilitation of repaired flexor tendons in zone II. J Hand Ther. 2025 Oct-Dec;38(4):817-824. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2025.02.014. Epub 2025 Mar 15.
- Background: PubMed 40449569Minkhorst K, Munn A, MacDermid J, Grewal R. Does Orthosis Improve Outcomes of Conservative Treatment in Trigger Fingers? A 3-Arm Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2025 Dec;106(12):1798-1806. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2025.05.015. Epub 2025 May 29.
- Background: PubMed 29290504Lunsford D, Valdes K, Hengy S. Conservative management of trigger finger: A systematic review. J Hand Ther. 2019 Apr-Jun;32(2):212-221. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2017.10.016. Epub 2017 Dec 28.
- Background: PubMed 39365244Chevalley S, Wangberg V, Ahlen M, Stromberg J, Bjorkman A. Passive Mobilization With Place-and-Hold Versus Active Mobilization Therapy After Flexor Tendon Repair: 5-Year Minimum Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial. J Hand Surg Am. 2024 Dec;49(12):1165-1172. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2024.08.011. Epub 2024 Oct 5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Humera Mubashar principal investigator
Riphah International University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing A1 pulley stretching, Tendon Gliding exercises and Standard physiotherapy treatment in people with Trigger Finger, run by Riphah International University at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 19 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Numeric Pain Rating Scale (time frame: From enrollment to end of treatment 6 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07482397, which also lists 10 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 19 Mar 2026.