A sprained wrist is an injury caused by damage (overstretching, tearing or complete rupture) to the ligaments of the wrist. Symptoms vary depending on the extent of the injury and the location of the sprain. Sudden pain in the wrist will be felt at the time of injury and in more severe wrist sprains a tearing or popping feeling may be felt. Pain will be felt when moving the wrist and a tender spot may be felt where the ligament is damaged. Mild swelling could be visible and bruising might develop in more severe injuries. This wrist injury usually occurs as a traumatic event instead of an overuse injury.
As with other types of sprain (e.g. a sprained ankle) a sprain of the wrist can be classified as grade 1, 2 or 3 depending on the severity of the injury.
A type 1 sprain will involve mild overstretching of the wrist ligaments, causing some pain but relatively little loss of function.
A type 2 sprain will involve significant overstretching or a partial tear. There will be pain, a “loose” feeling in the joint and some (but not total) loss of function.
In a type 3 injury, the ligaments will have been completely ruptured. The patient will experience pain, severe looseness and more or less complete loss of function of the wrist.
This is a relatively common injury which usually occurs after a fall onto an outstretched hand. However, this type of injury can also result from a blow to the wrist or from extreme pressure to it. Twisting the wrist can also cause a sprain. Wrist sprains are a common injury in many sports ranging from basketball to baseball to skateboarding.
Symptoms of a sprain usually include pain and swelling around the wrist. The patient will also usually experience tenderness in the wrist as well as a “warm to the touch” feeling. Other signs of a potential wrist sprain include:
In most cases (grade 1 or 2 sprains), treatment of a wrist sprain will require just giving the wrist some time to rest and recover naturally. The patient can normally help the processing along by:
Care should be taken not to wear the wrist brace for too long. If this is done, the muscles of the wrist may atrophy (weaken) due to underuse, leading to a another possible injury.
If the wrist sprain is of grade 3 severity, surgery may be necessary to repair the ruptured ligaments.
Especially for grade 2 or 3 type wrist sprains, it is advisable to see a physiotherapist who can design a series of exercises to strengthen the wrist. This will be an important step towards restoring normal strength and functionality in the joint and keeping the risk of re-injury to a minimum.
Obviously, the time needed to recover fully from a wrist sprain depends on the severity of the injury. It can actually take anywhere between 2 and 10 weeks for a grade 1 or 2 sprain. A grade 3 sprain can take significantly longer – perhaps as much as 3-4 months – to heal fully.
Whatever the degree of severity, The patient needs to be patient and listen to the advice of doctors and physiotherapists. At a minimum, he or she should wait until there is no pain in the wrist and until it feels just as strong as the other healthy wrist.
If the patient attempts to return to normal use of the wrist too soon, the result may be a permanently damaged wrist with repeated sprains in the future.
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Mueller Sport Care’s Adjustable Wrist Support treats weak, injured or unstable wrists without reducing range of motion.
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Treatment for wrist pain, general wrist support
The Bio Skin Boomerang comfortably provides compression and support to treat wrist pain for minor wrist problems. The wrap is easy to apply and is universal left or right. Constructed of Bio Skin’s patented, Ultima 2SL™ material, the Boomerang is comforatble to wear, while providing optimal wrist support. Bio Skin is hypo-allergenic and 100% neoprene free and latex free, so you don’t have to worry about skin irritations.
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Mueller Sports Medicine Compression Gloves help relieve the pain associated with arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Wrist brace for carpal tunnel syndrome and more
The BioSkin DP3 Wrist brace was designed to be the most comfortable and functional wrist brace ever. Constructed with Bio Skin`s patented Ultima 2s material, the DP3 features a thin layer of ultra-soft micro-fleece against the skin, which wicks moisture away from the body, keeping you cool and dry. There are no laces and the straps don`t need to be threaded through loops to be tightened, so the brace can easily be applied with one hand. The dorsal and palmar stays are removable and can be reshaped by hand to customize the shape of the brace. The DP3 is low profile and allows full use of your fingers, while limiting motion in the wrist to ease the pain caused from carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, sprains, and bursitis.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Elastic Wrist Support features a lightweight elastic knit that provides firm support and maintains a full range of movement.
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An easy on/off wrist support with adjustable compression. One Size and fits either wrist.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Green Fitted Wrist Brace supports your weak or injured wrist while your thumb and fingers maintain full range of motion.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Hg80 Wrist Brace features steel springs to help stabilize your wrist. Ideal for wrestling, volleyball and squash. Fits either wrist.
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The McDavid Hyperblend Wrist Support combines the supportive qualities or perforated neoprene and the compression of advanced knit materials to produce a lightweight wrist brace with superior compression to other traditional wrist supports.
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The Mueller Omniforce Ankle Support is an ankle sleeve with a premium flat knit construction that allows it to simultaneously provide lightweight compression and support with high levels of breathability and comfort. Anti-microbial Construction, built in gel pads and a contoured design allows this ankle to provide a hard to beat combination of compression, support and comfort. The brace uses separate designs for right and left for additional user comfort, Sold in sizes Small, Medium, Large and X-Large.
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This 100% cotton triangular bandage measures 40″ x 40″ x 56″, comes with 2 safety pins and should be part of every complete first aid kit.
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The McDavid Wrist Brace / Adjustable has a medical quality splint that adds further support and stability. It also incorporates hook and loop closures for custom fit and comfort.
Level 3: Maximum Protection – Relieving pain from conditions such as carpel tunnel, arthritis, tendonitis and sprains
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Mueller’s Wrist Brace With Splint uses a removable and padded splint to stabilize the wrist for carpal tunnel treatment. Adjustable tabs and breathable fabric augment an already comfortable design.
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The Mueller Sports Medicine Wrist Sleeve is a wraparound design with adjustable straps.
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The McDavid Wrist Sleeve / Adjustable/Elastic provides mild compression for soft tissue support with less heat retention.
Level 2: Advanced Protection – Support, pain relief and to promote healing
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Mueller’s Wrist Stabilizer brace features an extra long (6.5″) removable metal spoon stay to treat carpal tunnel and two padded side splints for lateral support. Made from breathable fabric for extra wearing comfort.
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The Wrist Support from LP helps to stabilize weak or slightly injured wrists without excessively restricting joint movement. Its nylon / spandex construction also provides comfortable four way compression.
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The Mueller Wrist Support Wrap has an easy on/off design and a neoprene construction for warmth and promotion of good blood circulation through the wrists. Made from breathable fabric for additional wearing comfort. One Size.
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The McDavid Wrist Wrap / Adjustable has a 4-way stretch and provides thermal/ compression therapy. It has hook and loop closures for custom fit and comfort.
Level 1: Primary Protection – Wrist support, helping to promote healing and pain relief