Fresh off a successful summer of tournament play, four-time PGA TOUR winner Tim Herron is once again teaming up with Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., a subsidiary of Endo International plc, on Facts on Hand, an educational campaign to raise awareness of Dupuytren’s Contracture, a common yet often misunderstood hand condition. For the campaign’s second year, Herron is bringing an interactive experience to three PGA TOUR tournaments to illustrate the challenges he has faced as a professional golfer living with Dupuytren’s Contracture.
Herron is one of the estimated 16 million people in the U.S. living with Dupuytren’s Contracture. The progressive, potentially disfiguring hand condition affects a layer of tissue underneath the palms, causing one or more fingers to move into a bent position so they cannot be straightened. As the contracture progresses, the bent fingers can make everyday tasks become more difficult – like shaking hands or even signing your own name. Because there is so little awareness about Dupuytren’s Contracture, even among physicians, many people mistakenly think they have arthritis or trigger finger.
“Living with Dupuytren’s Contracture has made me passionate about sharing my experiences and raising awareness because, as a professional golfer, I understand the importance of being able to grip things in daily life,” Herron said. “As a parent, I also understand how easy it is for people my age to ignore or neglect signs of a potential health issue. With back-to-school shopping around the corner, I believe this is a great time for parents to put their own health on the list and schedule their own check-up. If you think you might have this condition, it’s important to see a hand specialist or hand surgeon to get properly diagnosed and discuss possible treatment, including non-surgical options.”
“Dupuytren’s Contracture can progress slowly, so people may delay seeing a doctor until they can no longer straighten their fingers – which is why it’s important to stay on top of your health status, even as a busy parent,” said Damon Adamany, MD, board-certified specialist in hand and upper extremity surgery at The CORE Institute and the medical consultant for Facts on Hand. “The condition usually appears later in life in people over age 40, although it may occur in people who are in their early 20s, meaning it’s never too early to start addressing your health concerns.”
Individuals may start to notice symptoms through the development of a lump, or nodule, at the base of the finger prior to the formation of a contracture. The condition most commonly impacts the ring and pinky finger and can occur in one or both hands. Typically, men are affected by Dupuytren’s Contracture more often than women.
The interactive Facts on Hand booth will be featured at the Northern Trust (August 21 – 26 in Ridgewood, NJ), the Dell Technologies Championship (August 30 – September 3 in Norton, MA) and the TOUR Championship (September 19 – 23 in Atlanta, GA) tournaments. Tournament attendees who visit the Facts on Hand booth can participate in a mini golf course with simulator gloves that will give visitors the chance to experience what it’s like having Dupuytren’s Contracture. The booth will also feature promotional giveaways, a video and more information about this hand condition.