Most Common Causes
Wrist pain can develop due to sudden impact or injury as well as overuse injury. Types of sudden impact injuries to the wrist include sprains and fractures. Common overuse injuries to the wrist include Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, osteoarthritis, and De Quervain’s disease.
Prevention
Use proper posture when sitting at a desk and typing on a computer. If possible, use a wrist-friendly keyboard when working long hours typing. Learn how to properly use any hand tools. Take breaks when using a keyboard. Using wrist guards to prevent injuries in sports like skateboarding, snowboarding, and rollerblading.
What to Do
Ice the area for 20 minutes for 2-3 days after initial injury. Applying a heat pack can be beneficial a couple of weeks after the initial injury. Under supervision of your doctor, you may also take anti-inflammatory medications. If there are severe cases, surgery can be beneficial if recommended by a doctor.
Hurtful Activities
Any contact sport puts you at risk for a sudden impact injury to the wrist. Chronic repeated trauma can also cause injury. Repetitive stress to the wrist from typing, playing a new instrument, and other repetitive activities can put you at risk for a wrist injury, especially in the non-dominant arm. People who are “loose jointed” are more prone to wrist injury. Falling on an outstretched arm can also hurt your wrist.
What can PT do?
Physical therapy will focus on exercises that will build strength, improve flexibility, and progress function movements of the wrist. The Physical Therapist will design a treatment program tailored to your specific injury and the reason the injury occurred. They can help train you in your posture to avoid future injury. Wrist injuries can be very frustrating to a student trying to complete an assignment, a mother/father trying to take care of her baby, or even a worker that frequently works with their hands. At Pick PT our PT’s can help you get back to what you love doing or what you need to do. We’re experts in getting rid of wrist pain and keeping it gone.
