Pain around the wrist can be achy, dull or sharp.
It may also present with:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pins and needles or tingling
- Stiffness
- Hand weakness
The presentation and nature of wrist pain is highly dependent on the cause.
Causes of Wrist Pain
- Wrist sprain following trauma such as a fall on an outstretched arm.
- Overuse and repetitive stress injuries.
- Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel syndrome (see associated article).
The physiotherapist will gather history and make an assessment to determine the cause of your wrist pain and treat accordingly.
Physiotherapy Interventions
For a sprained wrist
- Rest and Immobilization with wrist support for the first few days until the inflammation subsides.
- Range of Motion exercises to restore pain free wrist movements.
- Strengthening exercises for the forearm muscles.
For overuse injuries
- Rest
- Ultrasound therapy to relieve pain.
- Hand strengthening exercises and stretches.
- Activity modification to ease strain on wrists
- Adjust keyboard/workstation to ensure proper positioning of the wrists to prevent recurrence or worsening.
For arthritis
- Heat and ultrasound therapy for pain management.
- Joint mobilizations to relieve stiffness on the joints.
- Hand strengthening exercises such as squeezing a stress ball to strengthen muscles of the hand.
- Range of Motion exercises to facilitate pain free wrist movements.
