Muscles
Extensor Indicis Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Forearm and Hand
Extensor Indicis Trigger Points are explored here through their location and referred pain pattern. Muscle knots is an everyday term used for tender muscular spots; myofascial pain describes pain involving muscle and its surrounding connective tissue. Small forearm muscle extending the index finger; trigger points cause pain at the back of the wrist and into the index finger.
Where you feel it
When the Extensor Indicis holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as dorsal wrist & hand pain. Where the pain spreads: Pain at the dorsum of the wrist that extends over the back of the hand into the index finger. What often sets it off: Repetitive index-finger use such as clicking, triggering, typing, and precision tool work; sustained wrist extension at a keyboard.
Overview
Extensor indicis arises from the distal posterior ulna and interosseous membrane and joins the extensor digitorum tendon to the index finger, allowing independent index extension. It is usually illustrated with extensor digitorum because their pain patterns overlap.
Trigger point locations
A point in the deep muscle belly on the distal third of the dorsal forearm, just proximal to the wrist.
Referred pain pattern
Pain at the dorsum of the wrist that extends over the back of the hand into the index finger.
Palpation & testing
Palpate deeply on the dorsal forearm a hand's breadth above the wrist while the patient lifts the index finger only; the contracting belly can be pinned against the ulna.
Common causes
Repetitive index-finger use such as clicking, triggering, typing, and precision tool work; sustained wrist extension at a keyboard.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Micro-breaks and click-free workflow adjustments, forearm self-massage, finger extension mobility. Clinically: needling of extensor indicis and extensor digitorum together, plus ergonomic review.
Treatment protocol
For Extensor Indicis, the general protocol applies: sustained pressure release on the taut band, then stretch and active movement in the newly gained range.
Position and palpation: Palpate deeply on the dorsal forearm a hand's breadth above the wrist while the patient lifts the index finger only; the contracting belly can be pinned against the ulna.
Regional precaution for clinicians: In the forearm and hand the median nerve at the pronator teres, the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel and Guyon's canal, the radial nerve in the supinator arcade and the radial artery at the wrist are all superficial and must be avoided; needles are short and angled away from the neurovascular bundles.
Secondary Symptoms
Related muscles in this region
References
- • triggerpoints.net — reference
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
