1. Become a Benchwarmer, Temporarily
Even though you might not like to miss your Thursday night league, to rehabilitate a bowling wrist injury, you will have to. Depending on the severity of the injury and your doctor's orders, you may have to sit it out for a few weeks, or you may be out for the season. Taking a break from the game helps rehab the repetitive injury types of medical conditions, such as tendonitis, or single action injuries, such as a bruised bone. With repetitive injuries it is essential that you take a break from the action for at least a couple of weeks to avoid a more serious injury, or even possibly a permanent injury to your wrist. Be sure to see your doctor at the first sign of pain and follow your prescribed treatment plan, including that break from the game.
2. Put Your Wrist Under Wraps
After taking time off your bowling league and practice schedule, you may feel tentative about getting back into your sport. As long as you have a clearance from your doctor to begin bowling again, go ahead and get some practice games in. You may want to consider wearing a wrist brace, or bowling wrist support, especially during those first few games. There are many levels of support and using the correct level for you may include a trial and error process. Normally the lower cost ones are a temporary solution, as they deteriorate over time since the materials tend to bend. This may suit you if you expect the use of the wrist support to be a temporary thing. Expect to pay around 20 dollars for one of these low end bowling wrist supports. A more complex or higher end wrist support may last longer and better suit someone who wants to avoid re-injury.
3. Move Down a Notch
Although you may have always bowled with a 15 or 16 pound ball, when recovering from a wrist injury consider lightening it up a little. Moving to a lighter ball, even just temporarily, helps keep you in the game. In fact, if you throw a ball that is too heavy for you, then you could find yourself back in time out again. It might even be the reason you injured your wrist in the first place.
4. Check the Wrist Work
Have a bowling coach or highly experience bowler watch your back swing and follow through. He can note for you any twisting, turning or flicking of the wrist you might be making during your throws and offer some suggested changes. By making proper adjustments to your throw, you may take added strain off your rehabilitating wrist and prevent future injuries.
