What causes a sprained thumb? What should I do if I sprain my thumb?

There are many sports in life that can cause limb injuries, such as common fractures and ligament strains. So what is a sprained thumb? Which acupoints should be pressed to relieve a sprained thumb?

[Explanation] Thumb sprain is a common sports injury on campus. It is usually caused by excessive force on the thumb and incorrect force perception direction, such as eating raisins while playing basketball, accidentally catching the ball while playing baseball, incorrect bowling posture, or falls, strains, crushes and other accidents, all of which may cause thumb injuries.

【treat】

(1) For minor sprains, the Wuhu points on the affected side and the four limb points on the opposite side can be punctured. If combined with Dong’s guiding and moving qi acupuncture method, the effect will be better.

(2) For severe sprains, bloodletting should be done at the affected area first. In addition to the above-mentioned acupoints, the Houtonggu acupoint should be added, which may be effective.

[Acupoint Location] Wuhu Point: With the palm facing up, there is a point 5 fen outside the middle gland of the first segment of the thumb. Starting from the transverse line of the metacarpophalangeal crease, there is a point every 2 fen up to the transverse line of the second segment. There are five points in total, hence the name Wuhu Point.

Limb point: on the inner side of the tibia, four inches and five fen above the inner ankle.

Hou Tonggu Point: Located at the junction of the little toe and metacarpophalangeal joint, between the Tonggu Point of the Fourteen Meridians and the Shugu Point.

[Remarks] In the early stage of sprain, there will be swelling and pain due to ruptured bleeding of micro-capillaries. At this time, you should apply cold compress first to shrink the micro-capillaries and reduce the amount of bleeding. Avoid hot compress and improper manipulation or massage. All of the above treatments will accelerate bleeding in the affected area and may even cause serious secondary injuries. You should wait until the blood vessels heal, then apply hot compresses to promote blood circulation, rebuild damaged tissues, and remove blood stasis; this can not only shorten the recovery time, but also increase the effectiveness of acupuncture.