"EBC Deep Weekly Interview" Director Lu Bing-Sheng Discusses "De Quervain's Tenosynovitis" (Mother's Wrist): How to Identify Wrist Pain and Thumb Weakness?
Dr. Lu Bing-sheng, Director of Hsi-Yi Clinic, was interviewed by "EBC Deep Weekly," sharing insights on wrist pain commonly known as "De Quervain's Tenosynovitis" (Mother's Wrist), as well as early warning signs to watch out for in daily life.
"Mother's wrist" does not only happen to mothers who are raising children. Holding children for a long time, using mobile phones, clerical work, or work that requires repeated use of the thumb, stretching the hand web space to bear weight, and twisting the wrist may all put a large, repetitive load on the thumb-side tendons.
What is Mother's Wrist? It Doesn't Only Happen to Mothers
Commonly known as "Mother's Wrist," in medicine it often refers to De Quervain's tenosynovitis, which mainly occurs on the side of the wrist near the thumb.
When the tendons and the surrounding tendon sheath become irritated and swollen due to repetitive activities, the space for the tendons to slide becomes narrower, which can lead to pain, swelling, or difficulty in applying force.
Common scenarios include:
Holding babies or repeatedly performing child-rearing actions
Using mobile phones for extended periods of time
Administrative, clerical, and computer work
Fine motor tasks requiring repeated use of the thumb
Stretching the hand web space to pick up heavy objects
Frequent twisting of the wrist or applying force with the hand
Therefore, even if they are not mothers, men, office workers, or groups who need to use their hands extensively for work may also experience similar symptoms.
Is Wrist Pain or Thumb Weakness a Warning Sign of Mother's Wrist?
Mother's wrist commonly occurs on the thumb side of the wrist, and patients may feel:
Pain at the base of the thumb or the outer side of the wrist
Swelling near the wrist or thumb
Pain when gripping or holding things
Difficulty applying force when opening bottle caps, using chopsticks, or holding children
Certain wrist and thumb movements will significantly worsen the pain
The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, and not all wrist pain is Mother's Wrist, so medical history and a doctor's examination are still required for further judgment.
Dr. Lu Bing-sheng Demonstrates a Simple Self-Test for Mother's Wrist
When interviewed by EBC News, Dr. Lu Bing-sheng, Director of Hsi-Yi Clinic, demonstrated a movement commonly used in clinical practice to evaluate thumb-side pain:
Tuck your thumb into your palm, wrap your other four fingers around it, and then slowly move your wrist in the direction of your pinky finger.
If significant pain occurs on the thumb side of the wrist, it may indicate that the tendons and tendon sheath in that area are irritated.
However, the self-test can only serve as one form of symptom observation and cannot replace a doctor's diagnosis on its own. If the pain is significant, do not repeatedly perform the test with force.
How to Deal with Mother's Wrist Pain?
In the early stages when pain first appears, you should first reduce activities that continuously irritate the wrist to allow the tendons adequate rest time.
Depending on individual circumstances, the physician may evaluate activity adjustments, ice packs, medication, rehabilitation, or other treatment methods.
If wrist pain persists, recurs, or has already affected daily functions such as holding children, working, using chopsticks, or opening bottle caps, it is recommended to seek medical attention to confirm the source of the pain.
The course of disease, pain location, and tissue condition vary among different patients. Whether further interventional treatment is needed should be evaluated individually by a physician based on examination results, rather than simply determined by the duration of the pain.
"Mother's Wrist" is Actually Also the Hand of the Caregiver
This edition of EBC Deep Weekly also discussed the name "Mother's Wrist" from another angle.
Dr. Lu Bing-sheng reminded in the report that the child-rearing roles in modern families have become more diverse. Caring for children is not the mother's sole responsibility, and men may likewise develop related symptoms due to holding children for long periods and repetitive hand exertion.
Instead of only linking the condition to the female role, understanding it from the perspective of "wrist overuse caused by child-rearing" can actually better help different groups of people pay attention to their physical conditions.
Pain does not necessarily just go away by "enduring it." If wrist pain does not improve for a long time, or has affected daily life, you can first confirm the true source of pain, and then discuss the treatment method that suits you.
Media Coverage Information
Media: EBC News "EBC Deep Weekly"
Report Topic: Repetitive Exertion in Child-rearing: Beware of "Mother's Wrist" Creeping Up on You
Interviewed Physician: Dr. Lu Bing-sheng, Director of Hsi-Yi Clinic
Publication Date: July 19, 2026
