A Guide To Wrist Sprain

A wrist sprain is an injury to the ligaments in the wrist joint. It happens when there is a strong impact or over stretching occurs. A ligament is a tough band of tissue that connects two bones in a joint. Ligaments provide stability to the joint and hold the bones in proper position. A sprained wrist happens when a ligament is stretched or torn due to excessive force.

The wrist is a complex joint made of 15 separate bones. These bones are connected and form many joints. The joints are supported by several ligaments. One or more of the wrist ligaments can be injured, leading to a wrist sprain.

A wrist sprain can vary in severity from mild to severe. A Mild sprain occurs when the ligaments are stretched. A Moderate wrist sprain occurs when there is partial tearing of the wrist ligaments. A Severe sprain is when there is a complete tear of ligaments.

A sprained wrist is usually the result of an accident or fall but can also be due to an impact or carrying a heavy load. For this reason, many wrist sprains occur during wet, icy, and snowy weather conditions when people are more likely to slip and fall. Certain sports where wrists are being bent irregularly or involve twisting movements can also result in wrist sprains.

Wrist ligament injury may also be caused by repetitive movements resulting in stress on the wrist.

The most common symptoms of a sprained wrist are pain and swelling. The type of the pain can differ, it can be a dull ache that comes and goes or a constant sharp pain. Pain from a sprained wrist typically reduces within a few days. Activities such as moving your wrist, lifting, and gripping with your hand, and twisting things such as a door handle may cause you pain until your wrist heals completely.

A sprained wrist can appear swollen around the injured ligament. The swelling tends to be more obvious when the wrist sprain is severe, so much so that it can change the shape of your wrist. There may be a black or blue discoloration of the skin, like a bruise. Some people with a sprained wrist experience a popping or tearing sensation in the wrist.

If you have the symptoms of a sprained wrist, you may be wondering if your wrist is broken or sprained. A sprain is a stretching or tearing of the ligaments. A fracture is when one or more bones in the wrist are broken.

Most people with a sprained wrist experience pain and some tenderness but can still perform some range of normal movement but this may be painful. A fracture is likely to cause sharp, severe pain that prevents you from moving your wrist at all.

If you believe you have a fracture or your wrist pain continues for an extended period of time or is getting worse, you cannot move your wrist, if there’s a large amount of swelling or bruising which is getting worse, or you have lost feeling or sensation then you should seek medical attention.

RICE – Rest Ice Compression Elevation

Rest but continue to use your wrist and hand for usual activity as much as the pain and discomfort will allow. Apply an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth) for about 10-minutes and re-apply every few hours. Compression may provide your wrist with extra support during recovery and help reduce swelling, restrict movement, and limit the chance of further injury. Elevating your sprained wrist above your heart while resting or whenever possible is another method for reducing swelling and allowing for the ligaments to heal properly.

Sprains may feel better with a wrist support to help the ligaments settle and recover, provide compression, stabilise the joint, and provide pain relief.

To see OPPO’s full range click here wrist supports

When Can you Use Your Wrist Normally Again

You can usually use your hand as symptoms allow for light activities and you can gradually build back up your normal function levels. You may feel some discomfort, but this should gradually settle once your wrist becomes stronger.

Oppo Health Team.