Background: Aesthetics is a demanding and growing specialty. More providers are injecting daily at a high volume. De Quervain's tenosynovitis (DQT) is a well-known syndrome involving the hand in the orthopedic and rehabilitation space. The prediction is that DQT will soon become well known to aesthetic injectors. DQT presents with swollen tendons that run along the thumb side of the wrist and attach to the base of the thumb. This is a result of repetitive motion or overuse of the thumb, most often of the dominant hand. This causes pain to the thumb and wrist area, making it difficult to complete daily tasks and perform injections on patients.
Objective: This article's goal is to increase awareness among providers of the signs and symptoms of DQT and to be proactive in preventing this condition. A home exercise program has been created to focus on strengthening and conditioning the hand of injectors.
Methods: A systematic literature search of the PubMed database was completed.
Results: There is a positive correlation between industry demand, increased daily injecting, and the probability of injectors developing DQT. The pain caused by this syndrome can affect the daily lives and work performance of injectors. Proper body ergonomics, including stretching and strengthening the thumb, can be used to reduce pain caused by DQT.
Limitations: There was no case study or testing done on groups of people, which limits the results of this review.
Keywords: De Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT); Finklestein test; abductor pollicis longus (APL); extensor pollicis brevis (EPB); first dorsal compartment (FDC); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); nurse practitioner (NP); occupational therapy (OT); physical therapy (PT).
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