Braces For Wrist Sprain

WHAT CAUSES A WRIST SPRAIN

The wrist is composed of 13 bones and many ligaments that provide strong support while allowing for a wide range of movement. The ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect the carpal bones to one another providing strength so you can use your hand in all different ways.

Wrist sprains commonly occur when we slip and lose our balance.  To break our fall we stick out our hand as we hit the ground. This excessive force bends the wrist backward toward the direction of the forearm causing tiny tears or even a full tear of the ligament(s).  Wrist sprains are common in athletes that encounter falls such as in sports like football, basketball, cycling, skiing, skateboarding, gymnastics, and diving.  Wrist sprains also occur in sports like in boxing or weightlifting where poor lifting or improper form can lead to injury. In some instances a sprained wrist can happen from repetitive use as is seen with an overuse injury.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS

Wrist sprains can be graded mild to severe.  Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the injury, but most patients will feel pain immediately after the injury and pain while trying to move the wrist.  In a mild sprain, patients will notice tenderness and warmth around the injury site, along with pain during movement.  With severe sprains, swelling can be pronounced causing the wrist to change shape.  This injury can involve a feeling of popping or tearing in the wrist. There’s usually bruising and sharp pain is felt with any type of wrist movement. Because of the severity of the injury patients can report having a pronounced loss of motion even weakness/loss of stability making the wrist practically useless.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT?

For most wrist sprains the conservative treatment consists of using the RICE protocol and physical therapy to help reduce inflammation and regain flexibility.

RICE

• Rest: Avoid activities that can aggravate the wrist for the first 48 hours.
• Ice: Apply an ice pack to the involved area for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for two to three days or until the pain is gone.
• Compression: Use a compression bandage to help reduce swelling.
• Elevation: Elevate your wrist above the level of your heart as often as possible to help remove swelling and fluid accumulation.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Physical therapy will help the ligament(s) heal properly so that full function is regained.  A wrist sprain brace like an elastic wrist support is ideal for providing compression and support for a Grade I (mild sprain) or  Grade II (moderate sprain) injuries. Grade III (severe sprain) injuries require the greatest amount of immobilization and a long wrist/forearm brace/splint will be the recommended product for providing the maximum amount of wrist immobilization.

In addition to using a sprained wrist brace, a therapist will often use ice, heat, and message to regain flexibility and full function.  Once the pain and inflammation have been reduced, a progressive resistance program of strengthening exercises involving the use of resistance bands and weights will be used to help regain strength in the wrist and surrounding muscles.  As the patient progresses with the therapy they’ll receive instruction on modifying their activities as needed in order to return to their favorite activity without reinjuring themselves.

HOW TO PREVENT A SPRAINED WRIST INJURY?

Although preventing a wrist sprain can be difficult, it’s recommended to follows these general tips to reduce the chance of injury:

• Perform general strengthening exercises for the wrist muscles as prescribed by a physical therapist.
• Wear a protective wrist splint or brace to help protect against the wrist from bending back too far especially if you participate in sports like snowboarding, skiing, football, skateboarding, and cycling.

SELECT A BRACE FOR WRIST SPRAIN SUPPORT AND PROTECTION

Need help finding the brace for a wrist sprain?  Our physical therapists and brace experts can help you find the best type of brace for your injury.  Or, use our filters to choose the right brace for your needs.