Common Wrist Injuries in Sports and Their Possible Preventive Measures

Wrist injuries: Overview

The wrist’s structure is one of your body’s most complicated structures. The wrist allows you to perform several actions, including throwing objects, hammering, writing, and waving. As well as this, the wrist involves in many athletic activities or sports, such as golf, badminton, cricket, football, hockey, basketball, and volleyball. Moreover, some occupational activities may also require moving your wrists repeatedly. This repetitive movement of the wrist can cause several wrist injuries. This article is a detailed account of common wrist injuries and their preventive measures.

Common wrist injuries in sports

The following are the common wrist injuries found in sportspeople:

1. Wrist sprain

A wrist sprain is a common injury among athletes. The sprain usually occurs when you fall onto an outstretched hand. People may fall during athletic activities or sports. However, other conditions like road accidents may also cause to fall onto an outstretched hand. The common symptoms of a wrist sprain may include pain, swelling, tenderness, tearing or popping sensation, bruising, weakness, and loss of motion. Physical checkups usually diagnose a wrist sprain. However, your healthcare professional may suggest some radiological tests to diagnose some severe symptoms. These tests help your healthcare advisors to create a better treatment plan.

Usually, home remedies or conservative measures help reduce the symptoms of wrist sprain. These conservative measures include rest, ice massage, compression bandages, and elevating exercises. As well as this, your healthcare professionals suggest pain killers, physical therapy, or stretching exercises to improve the range of motion. Ensure that you follow all the conservative measures under the instructions of your healthcare provider.

2. Wrist tendinitis

Wrist tendinitis refers to the inflammation of the wrists’ tough tissues that connect the forearm muscles to the bone of your hands. De Quervain’s tendinitis is one of the most common forms of tendinitis that develops in the wrists. The condition affects the tendons near the thumb. Ulnar tendinitis is another problem causing irritations to the tendons on the pinkie side of the hand. Wrist tendinitis results from repetitive stress on the wrist tendons. The common symptom of wrist tendinitis includes difficulty performing certain actions, such as turning doorknobs, lifting objects, or opening jars. As well as this, you may also feel pain, swelling, and stiffness around the wrist joints or muscles.

A physical checkup involving performing certain movements is enough to diagnose the symptoms of wrist tendinitis. Wrist tendinitis can be treated through nonsurgical or surgical treatments. Nonsurgical treatments include the RICE method (rest, ice massage, compression and elevation), medications, physical therapy, and wearing the best wrist braces for tendinitis. Surgical treatments of wrist tendinitis include cleaning the damaged tissues or releasing the tendons to give them more space to move.

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3. Scaphoid injury

Scaphoid injury is a fracture to the scaphoid bone – a small bone located near the thumb base. A scaphoid is one of the carpal bones – a collection of bones making up your wrist. Any impact on your wrist can lead to scaphoid injury. However, the most common cause of scaphoid injury is a direct fall when catching yourself with an outstretched arm. As well as this, high-contact sports, athletic activities, and road accidents may also result in scaphoid fracture. The common symptoms of scaphoid injury may include pain, swelling, tenderness, and bruising. However, in some severe conditions, you may feel the inability to move your wrist and a visible deformity.

To diagnose a scaphoid injury or fracture, your healthcare provider suggests imaging tests, including X-rays, magnetitic resonance imaging (MRI), or CT scans. Nonsurgical treatment plans may include immobilization or closed reduction. However, surgical treatment is the best way to treat the severe conditions of a scaphoid injury. Surgical treatments may include internal fixation and bone grafting.

4. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is another common wrist problem resulting from extra pressure on the median nerve. However, there is often no single cause for developing carpal tunnel syndrome. The development of carpal tunnel syndrome results from a combination of risk factors. For example, your wrist structure, gender, nerve-damaging conditions, inflammatory conditions, medications, body fluid changes, medical conditions, and workplace are the major factors contributing to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, often results in tingling or numbness around your wrists. As well as this, you may also feel pain, swelling, and weakness around your wrists. A physical checkup is sometimes enough to diagnose the problem. However, to determine the severe conditions, your healthcare professional suggests imaging tests, including X-Rays, MRI, electromyography, and nerve conduction study, to help determine the causes or symptoms more clearly. Nonsurgical treatments of carpal tunnel syndrome include splinting, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroid injections. However, surgical treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome include endoscopy and open surgery.

5. Wrist Fracture

A wrist fracture refers to a broken bone in the wrist. A wrist is made up of a collection of bones. A fracture to any bone is a wrist fracture. There are several causes of a wrist fracture. One of the most common reasons for a wrist fracture is to fall directly onto your overstretched hand. As well as this, some athletic activities, high-contact sports, direct blowing to opponents or other objects

How to prevent wrist injuries during sports?

The following are the best preventive measures to avoid the chances of wrist injuries during sports:

1. Body warm-up

Ensure your body is fully warmed up before every sports session. This will keep your wrist joints active, helping prevent overuse injuries.

2. Bracing your wrist

Experts suggest that wearing the best wrist braces helps put the extra weight off your wrists. It makes you feel relaxed and avoid the chances of injuries during sports and other athletic activities.

3. Learn proper techniques

You need to learn proper athletic activities and playing techniques to prevent the chances of injuries during sports.

4. Maintain posture

Maintaining a good posture while playing helps you avoid the chances of falling. It reduces the chances of scaphoid injury, wrist sprain, and wrist fracture.

5. Physical therapy or stretching exercises

Physical therapy or regular stretching exercises helps keep your wrist joint flexible and active, helping prevent the chances of overuse injuries.

Buy the best wrist braces for sports

Whenever you feel wrist pain and other symptoms, including swelling, tenderness, and difficulty moving, never ignore them. You should consult your GP instead to diagnose the problems. For a variety of conditions, your healthcare provider will suggest wearing wrist support braces. If you are looking for the best wrist braces, we invite you to visit 360 relief to get the best wrist support braces to help manage your wrist problems.