The wrist joint is where the two bones of the lower arm meet the bones in the hand. These bones are connected by ligaments. Your wrist joint allows a lot of movement, and this leaves it susceptible to injury. Sprains can happen while playing a sport or if you fall and force your hand backward or into into an awkward position. This can overstretch the ligaments and lead to a sprain. Sprains can cause pain, swelling and a loss of function. If you develop this injury, talk to your physician about the available treatment for a sprained wrist so that your injury does not become worse or chronic.
Identification
The ligaments in your body, including those in your wrist, are designed to stretch only slightly to help prevent you from overextending your joint. However, if your hand is forced backward or made to twist in an excessive way, your ligaments may be stretched beyond their limits. When this happens to a ligament, it is called a sprain. Falls tend to be the most common cause of wrist sprains. The natural tendency is to try to break your fall by reaching your hand out. The impact from the fall places excessive strain on the wrist and its ligaments, leading to a sprain.
Types
Sprains are classified into three categories depending on their severity, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A Grade 1 sprain is a mild sprain. The ligaments were overstretched, but they did not tear. A moderate sprain is called a Grade 2, and it occurs when the ligaments start to tear. The most severe sprain is a Grade 3. At this level, the ligament is torn or ruptured. All levels of sprains can cause pain, swelling and discoloration. With moderate and severe sprains, you may also lose some function or range of motion in the wrist and hand. The goal of treatment is to reduce your symptoms, restore normal function and flexibility, and prevent future problems.
Considerations
Before beginning treatment, your physician will need to determine the level of sprain you have. This will include a physical exam during which your physician will need to know exactly how you sprained your wrist and what symptoms you have been experiencing. According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, he will look for signs of tenderness, changes in skin color and deformity, and test the strength and stability of your wrist. It may be necessary to take X-rays to rule out a broken bone or an MRI to determine if the ligament was actually torn.
Features
For all wrist sprains, you need to rest the wrist and avoid activities that make your symptoms worse. Using ice to reduce the swelling along with pain and anti-inflammatory medications may help. This may be all you need for a week or two if your sprain is a Grade 1.
For a Grade 2 sprain, along with the above, you may need to wrap the wrist or wear a cast for about a week to fully immobilize the area. You will then need to slowly return to your normal activities to avoid re-injuring the wrist.
If you have a Grade 3 sprain, you may need surgery to repair the torn ligament. If you need surgery, it may take a few months to completely recover. If your wrist sprain was severe enough to require immobilization or surgery, the Sports Science Orthopaedic Clinic recommends a period of physical therapy. Your therapist will show you exercises to help strengthen and regain motion in your wrist. She can also teach you how to use your wrist without placing excessive force on the joint. This may or may not include wearing a wrist support during specific activities.
Prevention/Solution
Since most wrist sprains are from a fall, incorporating balance exercises into your routine will be important. Speak to a coach or trainer who is familiar with the sports you play. A trainer can teach you balance and agility exercises to help you learn to maintain control and balance. In addition, you will need an ongoing program of strengthening and stretching exercises for the wrist. When the muscles in your wrist are strong, they are better able to stop you from overextending the wrist. If the muscles in the wrist are flexible, the joint is less prone to injury. An ongoing program is essential because wrist sprains can become chronic.
