Prevalence of De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis and Its Risk Factors Among Weight Lifters

Background: De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a medical condition that occurs when the tendons of the thumb and wrist become inflamed, painful, and cause difficulty in movement of the wrist and thumb. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis and its associated risk factors among weightlifters. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted over six months following the submission of the synopsis. Data was collected from two locations: Sultan Fitness Club and the University of Lahore gym. The study involved a total of 123 weightlifters selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Participants included individuals aged 20 to 40 years who engaged in strength training (bodybuilding) at least four times a week, used weights of at least 4 kg, and provided informed consent. Exclusion criteria ruled out individuals with pre-existing wrist injuries, conditions causing distal quadrant tendinitis, any history of hand or wrist trauma or surgery, cervical radiculopathy, or steroid use. The prevalence was measured using the Finkelstein test, and severity was measured with a visual analogue scale. The other variable used to determine the risk factors for de Quervain’s tenosynovitis was measured using a validated questionnaire. After collecting responses through a demographic and structured questionnaire, the data were analyzed, and continuous variables were calculated using means and standard deviations in tabulated form. Ordinal variables were presented using frequency tables. Results: The study included 123 participants, with an average age of 26.37 years, predominantly male (82.9%), and an average height of 166.94 cm and weight of 67.80 kg. 34.1% of participants tested positive for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, while 48% reported no pain. A majority (78%) engaged in exercises involving heavy wrist movements, and 62.6% took rest days for recovery. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that a significant portion of weightlifters are at risk for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, with 34.1% testing positive. Key risk factors identified include frequent engagement in heavy gripping exercises, insufficient rest, lack of warm-ups, and the absence of wrist mobility exercises.