A sprain located on the wrist is an injury of the capsule and of the ligaments around the wrist joint, caused most of the time by a traumatic injury, such as a fall on the outstretched hand but also by the repetitive use of the wrist, as it happens in athletes who use a racket (tennis) or in people who put a lot of stress on the wrist joint.

The sprain of the wrist is a common injury for many athletes, but it can happen to other people, too. It can happen when we lose our balance or we slip, instinctually we put our hand in front to prevent falling. The force of impact can bend the hand back towards the forearm, which leads to sprawling or even rupturing of the ligaments around the wrist joint.

HAND ANATOMY

The hand consists of 27 bones, more precisely:

➢ Eight carpal bones
➢ five metacarpal bones
➢ 14 phalanges (two at the thumb and three – proximal, medial and distal – at each of the other fingers).
In addition to these bones, the hand consists of a rich network of muscles and ligaments and is connected to the forearm by the wrist (carpal bones).
This unique arrangement gives the hand a great freedom of movement, great flexibility and precision, but it is also very fragile and any force or higher pressure can damage it.

A sprain of the wrist, often manifests with:

➢ pain that occurs in the area of the lesion but that can be felt in several places around the joint. It usually hurts when trying to catch objects (especially heavy objects) or when twisting movements of the wrist.
➢ swelling and stiffness of the joint.
If the joint of the hand begins to hurt immediately after a fall or after another traumatic event, if it is hot or swollen or if the pain persists after stopping any activity, a doctor examination is in order. For a correct diagnosis and to exclude any other lesion such as fracture, joint instability or arthritis of the wrist, it is necessary to perform an X-ray or an MRI examination.

Allow your wrist to rest for at least 48 hours.

Eventually, the hand will be immobilized with the help of a splint or orthotics.

Ice applied topically, in the affected area for 5-10 minutes, 1-3 times a day, helps relieve pain but it also reduces swelling. The ice will be wrapped in a thin towel to prevent skin irritation.

A compressive bandage wrapped around the wrist will help minimize the swelling in the affected area but also to keep it stable.

Anti-inflammatory drugs help relieve pain and inflammation, but are indicated for short periods of time, 7-14 days maximum.

Raising the wrist above the level of the heart, as often as possible, using a pillow or backrest of a chair, is indicated to reduce swelling.

Specific exercise programs are needed to help improve the range of movement in the wrist.
This: ➢ stretching exercises will help increase the flexibility of the wrist.

➢ muscle toning exercises that cross the wrist joint are useful to strengthen the joint but also to prevent possible relapses and/or other injuries.

➢ If you find yourself in the situation of a fall, try to avoid putting your hand in front or leaning on your hand. Rolling on one side is better.

➢ People who do sports must ensure that they use appropriate sports equipment that protects bones and joints.