A wrist sprain is a common injury to the soft tissues of the wrist. A soft tissue injury covers muscles, tendons, ligaments and joint capsule. Soft tissue injury does not involve the bones. This is a generalised term that covers many structures that can potentially be injured. A physiotherapist will be able to identify the specific structure that is injured within the wrist and provide the appropriate rehab for this common injury. Most wrist sprains heal reasonably fast with appropriate rest. However, a small portion of wrist sprains can cause large amounts of pain and disability due to important structures being damaged. A serious wrist sprain usually involves small ligaments being damaged in the wrist. The role of the ligament is to hold the many wrist bones together and provide overall stability to the wrist joint, an injury to these ligaments can make the patient feel that their wrist is loose when they lift objects or support their body weight.
What causes wrist sprains?
Wrist sprains can occur when the wrist is excessively pushed into one direction which causes soft tissues to be torn, a common cause is when there is a fall onto an outstretched hand. Wrist sprains are more likely to occur in the younger population because their bones are strong. However, it is common for older population to fracture their wrist bones instead of a wrist sprain due their bones becoming weaker as they get older. Furthermore, wrist sprains can also be injured from overusing the ligaments that placing repetitive strain over time.
How can physiotherapy help with a wrist sprain?
Physiotherapists are experts in musculoskeletal injuries, they will be able to provide you with an accurate and clear diagnosis of your wrist injury. They can explain the type and severity of the injury. They will be able to begin the rehab process to ensure you make a complete recovery of the wrist. The initial treatment of a wrist sprain involves rest and placing the wrist in a brace for support. It may also involve taping the wrist for protection as the structure begin to heal in the process. Wrist injuries can often be accompanied with swelling, the treatment for swelling is usually rest, ice, compression and elevation of the injury. A physiotherapist may also use soft tissue treatments on the surrounding muscles that may be tight due to the injury. The most important aspect of the rehabilitation process is the physiotherapy exercises. The exercises play a large role to regain strength, range of motion and stability of the wrist. The type of exercise will depend on the soft tissue structure that is involved in the injury. A Myphysio physiotherapists are experts are treating wrist injuries, they can provide you with a comprehensive treatment program. Book a physiotherapy appointment today. You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram for tips on managing your wrist pain.
In the month of June 2023, Myphysio is offering 50% off initial consultation for new patients with wrist pain. Mention BLOG50 at checkout to receive your discount and get your rehabilitation journey started with an experienced Myphysio physiotherapist.