In Dupuytren's Contracture, the palmar fascia (connective tissues) within the hand become abnormally thickened and this can cause the fingers to curl up and impair function. The main function of these tissues is to increase grip strength; so over time, Dupuytren's Contracture decreases patients' ability to hold objects.

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Typically, Dupuytren's Contracture first presents as a thickening or nodule which looks like the skin of the palm is ‘puckering’. After this, lines of thickening under the skin begin to appear and these can have the feel of tough leather to the touch. These can sometimes cause pain but are more likely to cause itching as the process evolves and the fingers become more bent. The condition appears to affect more men than women and often doesn’t appear until after the age of 50. In the U.K., around 20% of the male population are reported to have some form of the disease.

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Current treatment plans for this are limited and can be quite invasive. Although surgery can remove the abnormal growths, this does not prevent the condition returning and so the process repeats itself.

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Total Therapy Norfolk are now looking for individuals who are affected by this condition in order to conduct some initial research – primarily to complete questionnaires with a view to developing an effective, non-invasive treatment plan.