Viking Disease

The “Viking Disease”, also known as Dupuytren’s contracture is another inherited disease common among those of Norse descent, originating in Northern Europe that currently affects around 10% of men and 2% of women in Nordic countries. The disease is more common in those aged over 50.

It is thought that the disease originated with the Vikings, who spread across Europe colonising and settling, but also spreading Dupuytren’s contracture. The disease is most common in Iceland where many have a strong Viking bloodline, though other high incidence countries include Norway, Denmark, Sweden as well as Germany and UK and other places Vikings migrated to.

The condition involves a gradual thickening and tightening of tissue under the skin of the hand, affecting the fingers and slowly pulling them into a bent position towards the palm. This of course provides difficulties when performing everyday activities. In some cases, the disease can be very painful and also cause itching.

Within some of the Sagas we come across descriptions of people with ‘cramped hands having all the fingers lay in the palm’, likely to be early descriptions of the disease. There is also the skald whose name is Bjorn Krepphandi meaning “crippled hand”.

Whilst there are treatment options, there’s no cure found, though the Sagas do also hint at a possible fix (though we don’t recommend it) – a servant woman’s bent fingers were fixed by someone kicking her in the hand.

We must note that there are some evidence of forms of Dupuytren’s Disease in other parts of the world (such as Japan) and cases that predate the Viking period, but it is suggested that these are different types of the condition.

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