OBJECTIVE: Trigger finger is a common clinical disorder that often results in pain and functional limitations. This study aimed to determine whether joint-blocking orthosis was effective in treating adult idiopathic trigger fingers. METHODS: Fifty-five participants were randomly assigned to either a hand therapy group or an orthosis group that immobilized the proximal interphalangeal joint for 6 weeks. The Green classification of triggering; short-form version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand; and numeric pain rating scale were used to assess participants' data. RESULTS: The orthosis was successful in completely resolving the symptoms of trigger finger in 53.6% of the participants at 6 weeks postintervention, whereas the hand therapy control group did not result in any successful outcomes. The Green classification score for the orthosis group decreased from 2.68 (standard deviation 0.47) at baseline to 0.93 (standard deviation 1.12) at 6 weeks. The short-form version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand disability score was significantly reduced after wearing the orthosis, F[2, 52] 74.16 p < 0.001, and improved from baseline (M 37.6) to 6 weeks (M 20.26). The pain intensity score was also significantly decreased after wearing the orthosis, F[2, 52] 52.17 p < 0.001, partial eta 2 0.67. CONCLUSION: Using orthosis to immobilize the proximal interphalangeal joint, day and night, for 6 weeks, is an effective and reasonable option for treating idiopathic trigger fingers with Green grade 2 or 3. Hand therapy without orthosis did not result in significant improvements.

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