A staved thumb

Many times, thumb sprains will result from sports injuries or falls. For example, skiing results in many thumb injuries, as does basketball. Or, you may fall and try to catch yourself, bending your thumb in an awkward position. To determine the severity of your injury, visit a hand surgeon as soon as possible. He or she may take x-rays to see if any bones are broken. If a ligament is torn, it may be treatable with a cast or splint.

A thumb sprain occurs when the thumb is bent out of its normal range of movement, usually backward. It is common in skiing, rugby, and basketball. If a sprained thumb is not treated properly it can recur and be a long term weakness. A thumb sprain is simply a tear or stretching of any of the ligaments in the thumb. The thumb consists of the phalanges bones which connect to the metacarpal bone at the base of the thumb. This joint is known as the metacarpophalangeal joint.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. A sprained thumb, also referred to as skier's thumb, is a fairly common condition that involves damage of the connective tissues in the thumb. When the term "sprained thumb" or "thumb sprain" is used, it typically means an injury to the main ligament of the thumb, which is called the ulnar collateral ligament. A stable thumb is extremely important in order to perform many activities that require pinching and grasping, and a sprained thumb can significantly weaken your ability to perform these tasks.

A thumb sprain happens when you injure the tissues in your thumb that connect the bones in a joint. These tissues, known as ligaments, keep your bones in place when the joint moves. In your thumb, several ligaments help you grab objects, pinch, and make a fist. A broken bone or a torn ligament may require more long-term treatment. You may have trouble grabbing or pinching objects, or barely be able to move your thumb.