What causes finger joint cracking?
Disease description:
My fingers make loud popping sounds when typing at work, which is quite alarming—makes me worry that something might be wrong. I'd like to know what causes finger joint cracking?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lin Yunfei
I have tenosynovitis. The clicking sound in the finger joints is not caused by local joint pathology, but rather by tenosynovitis. Due to excessive manual work, tendons become compressed within the tendon sheath, leading to inflammatory edema, which produces a snapping sound during movement—manifesting as a grating noise in the finger joints. In the early stages of tenosynovitis, treatment mainly involves rest and keeping the area warm, avoiding excessive manual labor. Soaking hands in hot water daily can help; topical applications such as Huoxue Zhitong Plaster or Wantong Jingu Tie may also be used.
