Wrist Sprain

Wrist Sprain, Adult

A wrist sprain is a stretch or tear in the strong, fibrous tissues (ligaments) that connect your wrist bones. There are three types of wrist sprains:

  • Grade 1. In this type of sprain, the ligament is stretched more than normal.
  • Grade 2. In this type of sprain, the ligament is partially torn. You may be able to move your wrist, but not very much.
  • Grade 3. In this type of sprain, the ligament or muscle is completely torn. You may find it difficult or extremely painful to move your wrist even a little.

What are the causes?

A wrist sprain can be caused by using the wrist too much during sports, exercise, or at work. It can also happen with a fall or during an accident.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to occur in people:

  • With a previous wrist or arm injury.
  • With poor wrist strength and flexibility.
  • Who play contact sports, such as football or soccer.
  • Who play sports that may result in a fall, such as skateboarding, biking, skiing, or snowboarding.
  • Who do not exercise regularly.
  • Who use exercise equipment that does not fit well.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

  • Pain in the wrist, arm, or hand.
  • Swelling or bruised skin near the wrist, hand, or arm. The skin may look yellow or kind of blue.
  • Stiffness or trouble moving the hand.
  • Hearing a pop or feeling a tear at the time of the injury.
  • A warm feeling in the skin around the wrist.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a physical exam. Sometimes an X-ray is taken to make sure a bone did not break. If your health care provider thinks that you tore a ligament, he or she may order an MRI of your wrist.

How is this treated?

This condition is treated by resting and applying ice to your wrist. Additional treatment may include:

  • Medicine for pain and inflammation.
  • A splint to keep your wrist still (immobilized).
  • Exercises to strengthen and stretch your wrist.
  • Surgery. This may be done if the ligament is completely torn.

Follow these instructions at home:

If you have a splint:

  • Do notput pressure on any part of the splint until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
  • Wear the splint as told by your health care provider. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
  • Loosen the splint if your fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
  • If your splint is not waterproof:
    • Do notlet it get wet.
    • Cover it with a watertight covering when you take a bath or a shower.
  • Keep the splint clean.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

  • If directed, put ice on the injured area.
    • If you have a removable splint, remove it as told by your health care provider.
    • Put ice in a plastic bag.
    • Place a towel between your skin and the bag or between the splint and the bag.
    • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times per day.
  • Move your fingers often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
  • Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your heart while you are sitting or lying down.

Activity

  • Rest your wrist. Do notdo things that cause pain.
  • Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
  • Do exercises as told by your health care provider.

General instructions

  • Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
  • Do notuse any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. These can delay healing. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
  • Ask your health care provider when it is safe to drive if you have a splint.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • Your pain, bruising, or swelling gets worse.
  • Your skin becomes red, gets a rash, or has open sores.
  • Your pain does not get better or it gets worse.

Get help right away if:

  • You have a new or sudden sharp pain in the hand, arm, or wrist.
  • You have tingling or numbness in your hand.
  • Your fingers turn white, very red, or cold and blue.
  • You cannot move your fingers.

Wrist Sprain, Pediatric

A wrist sprain is a stretch or tear in the strong tissues (ligaments) that connect the wrist bones to each other. There are three types of wrist sprains.

  • Grade 1. In this type of sprain, the ligament is stretched more than normal.
  • Grade 2. In this type of sprain, the ligament is partially torn. Your child may be able to move his or her wrist, but not very much.
  • Grade 3. In this type of sprain, the ligament or muscle is completely torn. Your child may find it difficult or extremely painful to move his or her wrist even a little bit.

What are the causes?

A wrist sprain can be caused by using the wrist too much during sports or while playing. It can also happen with a fall or during an accident.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to occur in children:

  • With a previous wrist or arm injury.
  • With poor wrist strength and flexibility.
  • Who play contact sports, such as football or soccer.
  • Who play sports that may result in a fall, such as skateboarding, biking, skiing, or snowboarding.
  • Who do sports that put forceful weight on the joints, such as gymnastics.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

  • Pain in the wrist, arm, or hand.
  • Swelling or bruised skin near the wrist, hand, or arm. The skin may look yellow or kind of blue.
  • Stiffness or trouble moving the hand.
  • Hearing a pop or feeling a tear at the time of the injury.
  • A warm feeling in the skin around the wrist.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a physical exam. Sometimes an X-ray is taken to make sure a bone did not break. If your child’s health care provider thinks that your child tore a ligament, he or she may order an MRI of your child’s wrist.

How is this treated?

This condition is treated by resting and applying ice to your child’s wrist. Additional treatment may include:

  • Medicine for pain and inflammation.
  • A splint, brace, or cast to keep your child’s wrist still (immobilized).
  • Exercises to strengthen and stretch your child’s wrist.
  • Surgery. This may be done if the ligament is completely torn.

Follow these instructions at home:

If your child has a splint or brace:

  • Have your child wear the splint or brace as told by your child’s health care provider. Remove it only as told by your child’s health care provider.
  • Loosen the splint or brace if your child’s fingers tingle, become numb, or turn cold and blue.
  • If the splint or brace is not waterproof:
    • Do notlet it get wet.
    • Cover it with a watertight covering when your child takes a bath or a shower.

Keep the splint or brace clean.

If your child has a cast:

  • Do notlet your child put pressure on any part of the cast until it is fully hardened. This may take several hours.
  • Do not let your child stick anything inside the cast to scratch the skin. Doing that increases your child’s risk of infection.
  • Check your child’s skin around the cast every day. Tell your child’s health care provider about any concerns.
  • You may put lotion on your child’s dry skin around the edges of the cast. Do notput lotion on the skin underneath the cast.
  • Keep the cast clean.
  • If the cast is not waterproof:
    • Do notlet it get wet.
    • Cover it with a watertight covering when your child takes a bath or a shower.

Managing pain, stiffness, and swelling

  • If directed, apply ice to the injured area.
    • If your child has a removable splint or brace, remove it as told by your child’s health care provider.
    • Put ice in a plastic bag.
    • Place a towel between your child’s skin and the bag or between your child’s cast and the bag.
    • Leave the ice on for 20 minutes, 2–3 times a day.
  • Have your child move his or her fingers often to avoid stiffness and to lessen swelling.
  • Have your child raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of his or her heart while sitting or lying down.

Activity

  • Make sure your child rests his or her wrist. Do notlet your child do things that cause pain.
  • Have your child return to his or her normal activities as told by his or her health care provider. Ask your child’s health care provider what activities are safe.
  • Have your child do exercises as told by his or her health care provider.

General instructions

  • Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
  • Do notgive your child aspirin because of the association with Reye syndrome.
  • Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • Your child’s pain, bruising, or swelling gets worse.
  • Your child’s skin becomes red, gets a rash, or has open sores.
  • Your child’s pain does not get better or it gets worse.

Get help right away if:

  • Your child has a new or sudden sharp pain in the hand, arm, or wrist.
  • Your child has tingling or numbness in his or her hand.
  • Your child’s fingers turn white, very red, or cold and blue.
  • Your child cannot move his or her fingers.

Summary

  • A wrist sprain is a stretch or tear in the strong tissues (ligaments) that connect the wrist bones to each other.
  • This condition is treated by resting and applying ice to your child’s wrist.
  • Additional treatments may include medicines and keeping your child’s wrist still (immobilized) with a splint, brace, or cast.

Wrist Sprain Rehab

Ask your health care provider which exercises are safe for you. Do exercises exactly as told by your health care provider and adjust them as directed. It is normal to feel mild stretching, pulling, tightness, or discomfort as you do these exercises, but you should stop right away if you feel sudden pain or your pain gets worse.  Do notbegin these exercises until told by your health care provider.

Stretching and range of motion exercises

These exercises warm up your muscles and joints and improve the movement and flexibility of your wrist. These exercises also help to relieve pain, numbness, and tingling.

Exercise A: Wrist flexion, active

  1. Extend your left / right arm in front of you, and point your fingers downward.
  2. If told by your health care provider, bend your left / right arm.
  3. Try to bring your palm toward your forearm as far as you can without pain. You should feel a gentle stretch on the top of your forearm and wrist.
  4. Hold this position for __________ seconds.
  5. Slowly return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times a day.

Exercise B: Wrist extension, active

  1. Extend your left / right arm in front of you and turn your palm upward.
  2. If told by your health care provider, bend your left / right arm.
  3. Bring your palm and fingertips back so your fingers point downward. You should feel a gentle stretch on the inside of your forearm and wrist.
  4. Hold this position for __________ seconds.
  5. Slowly return to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times a day.

Exercise C: Supination, active

  1. Stand or sit with your arms at your sides.
  2. Bend your left / right elbow to an “L” shape (90 degrees).
  3. Turn your palm upward until you feel a gentle stretch in the inside of your forearm.
  4. Hold this position for __________ seconds.
  5. Slowly return your palm to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this stretch __________ times a day.

Exercise D: Pronation, active

  1. Stand or sit with your arms at your sides.
  2. Bend your left / right elbow to an “L” shape (90 degrees).
  3. Turn your palm downward until you feel a gentle stretch in the top of your forearm.
  4. Hold this position for __________ seconds.
  5. Slowly return your palm to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this stretch __________ times a day.

Strengthening exercises

These exercises build strength and endurance in your wrist. Endurance is the ability to use your muscles for a long time, even after they get tired.

Exercise E: Wrist flexors

  1. Sit with your left / right forearm supported on a table and your hand resting palm-up over the edge of the table. Your elbow should be below the level of your shoulder.
  2. Hold a __________ weight in your left / right hand. Or, hold a rubber exercise band or tube in both hands, keeping your hands at the same level and hip distance apart. There should be a slight tension in the exercise band or tube.
  3. Slowly curl your hand up toward your forearm.
  4. Hold this position for __________ seconds.
  5. Slowly lower your hand back to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times a day.

Exercise F: Wrist extensors

  1. Sit with your left / right forearm supported on a table and your hand resting palm-down over the edge of the table. Your elbow should be below the level of your shoulder.
  2. Hold a __________ weight in your left / right hand. Or, hold a rubber exercise band or tube in both hands, keeping your hands at the same level and hip distance apart. There should be a slight tension in the exercise band or tube.
  3. Slowly curl your hand up toward your forearm.
  4. Hold this position for __________ seconds.
  5. Slowly lower your hand to the starting position.

Repeat __________ times. Complete this exercise __________ times a day.

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