At Action Rehab Northside, we see a lot of new mums and young professionals who present with pain on the thumb side of their wrist when lifting their baby, gripping their phone, opening jars, lifting a kettle or with typing.
If you’ve noticed pain with any of these actions — you may be dealing with De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
The good news is that it’s treatable — and often preventable — with the right load management and ergonomic adjustments.
De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is irritation of the two thumb tendons:
- Abductor Pollicis Longus (APL)
- Extensor Pollicis Brevis (EPB)
These tendons run through a small tunnel on the thumb side of your wrist. When overloaded, the sheath around them becomes irritated and painful.
Why Is It So Common in Pregnancy & New Mums?
There are three main reasons:
1. Hormonal Changes
Pregnancy hormones (particularly relaxin) increase ligament laxity and fluid retention. This can increase tendon friction, Reduce joint stability and Increase inflammation.
2. Sudden Increase in Load
New mums perform hundreds of repetitive movements daily:
- Lifting baby under the arms
- Supporting baby’s head with thumbs abducted
- Breastfeeding in wrist flexion
- Carrying capsules/car seats
- Pushing prams
It’s not one lift — it’s cumulative load.
3. Poor Wrist Positioning
Many mums hold their wrists in:
- Thumb abducted
- Wrist flexed
- Sustained gripping positions
This dramatically increases tendon compression.
Why Young Professionals Get It Too
You don’t need a baby to get De Quervain’s.
In young professionals, the main drivers are:
- Heavy phone scrolling (thumb overuse)
- Trackpad use with wrist deviation
- Long typing hours
- Gym programs with gripping overload (e.g. kettlebells, pull-ups)
- Poor workstation ergonomics
It’s a classic load > capacity issue.
The Real Solution: Load Management
Rest alone isn’t enough. And pushing through makes it worse.
The key is smart load modification through:
- Modifying your lifting technique
- Improving feeding and holding positions for new mums
- Optimising ergonomics at your desk for professionals
- Following a progressive tendon loading programme
Tendons need load to recover — just the right amount.
Do You Need a Splint?
A forearm-based thumb spica splint does help:
- During acute flare-ups
- At night
- During high-load tasks
Here at Action Rehab, we specialise in fabricating custom made thermoplastic splints that are durable, waterproof and tailored to your anatomy and needs.
Wearing a splint allows you to continue to function, without continually aggravating the irritable tendons.
When to Seek Help
We recommend seeking assessment from a hand therapist when:
- Pain lasts more than 2–3 weeks
- Grip strength is declining
- You can’t lift your baby comfortably
- Pain keeps returning
Seeing a Hand Therapist, and commencing treatment early, can significantly shorten your recovery period.
The Bigger Picture: Capacity > Just Rest
De Quervain’s isn’t a “mum problem” or a “desk worker problem”. It’s a load management problem.
When daily thumb load exceeds tendon capacity — pain develops.
The goal isn’t to stop using your hands.
It’s to increase capacity and improve how you load them.
If this is something that you are suffering with, the team at Action Rehab Hand and Upper Limb Clinic can help. Get in touch, so that we can perform a thorough assessment of your wrist and guide your recovery back to full capacity.
