Muscles
First Dorsal Interosseus Trigger Points
Symptom Area: Forearm and Hand
First Dorsal Interosseus 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. Muscle of the thumb-index web; a very common source of hand pain that spreads into the index and little finger.
Where you feel it
When the First Dorsal Interosseus holds active trigger points, you usually notice it as dorsal finger pain and volar finger pain. Where the pain spreads: Pain along the radial side of the index finger and across the back of the hand; a characteristic secondary referral is felt in the little finger. What often sets it off: Repetitive pinch grip, writing, using pliers or scissors, smartphone use, gardening, playing instruments.
Overview
First dorsal interosseus fills the web space between the first and second metacarpals and abducts the index finger. It is heavily loaded during pinch and grip, making it one of the most frequently involved hand muscles in myofascial pain.
Trigger point locations
A point in the bulk of the web space, palpable between the thumb and index metacarpals.
Referred pain pattern
Pain along the radial side of the index finger and across the back of the hand; a characteristic secondary referral is felt in the little finger.
Palpation & testing
Use a pincer grip on the web space, squeezing the muscle between thumb and finger; taut bands are exquisitely tender and reproduce the hand pain.
Common causes
Repetitive pinch grip, writing, using pliers or scissors, smartphone use, gardening, playing instruments.
Self-care & clinical treatment
Web-space self-release, pinch-grip load management, thumb and hand mobility drills, tool grip modification. Clinically: manual release or needling, checking the hypothenar and thenar groups at the same time.
Treatment protocol
For First Dorsal Interosseus, the general protocol applies: sustained pressure release on the taut band, then stretch and active movement in the newly gained range.
Position and palpation: Use a pincer grip on the web space, squeezing the muscle between thumb and finger; taut bands are exquisitely tender and reproduce the hand pain.
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.
Primary Symptoms
Secondary Symptoms
Often confused with
These muscles cause the same primary symptoms, so they are checked together:
Related muscles in this region
Related articles
References
- • triggerpoints.net — reference
Medically reviewed by: Marco Aruffo — physiotherapist since 2006, specialised in myofascial pain · Last reviewed:
