Women lugging loads of shopping bags around town are at risk - of "trigger finger".

A doctor says the condition, stenosing tenosynovitis is its medical title, occurs when the motion of the tendon that opens and closes the finger is limited, causing the finger to lock or catch. The condition can be painful.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot says trigger finger is more common in women than men. About 80 per cent of cases are in women between 50 and 60 years old.

Risk groups

Risk groups are housewives, gardeners, electricians, masseuses, typists, tailors and badminton players.

Thai Arthritis Foundation chairman Dr Pongsak Wattana says there are no national record of the condition, but one hospital says as many as 10,600 sufferers have been treated since 2001.

Mild symptoms

If symptoms are mild, resting the finger may be enough to solve the problem. Physicians may inject a cortico-steroid.

Surgery may be recommended to prevent permanent stiffness. Normally, it is an out-patient procedure.

Trigger finger

• Surgery is available at both public and private hospitals.
• About 10,600 have been treated since 2001.
• It costs between Bt2,000 and Bt10,000 depending on hospital