It's All in the Wrist

Treat an injury of this complex joint before it gets serious.

We often take for granted the ability to throw a ball, swing a racket, type at a computer or lift weights. Normal wrist and hand motion are needed for most daily activities as well as for many sports. But a wrist injury will quickly test your ambidextrous abilities -and it may not be a pretty sight.

The wrist is probably our most complex joint. Its eight carpal bones are tightly packed and connected by ligaments, and attach to the two forearm bones and five metacarpal bones of the hand. Three nerves and many blood vessels that supply the hand pass through narrow areas of the wrist that are subjected to highly compressive forces.

Wrist injuries can have a serious impact on your life and need to be treated promptly to ensure full recovery. Neglecting a sore wrist can result in more serious problems that may be more difficult to treat.

The most common wrist problems are overuse injuries due to repetitive daily activities at work or at home. These injuries often have a slow onset and may be ignored because they don't seem very serious. However, overuse wrist injuries can result in permanent nerve damage if neglected.

Wrist Trauma

Direct trauma to the wrist can vary from a simple sprain to a serious fracture or instability of the carpal bones due to ligament tears. Regardless of the injury, wrist sprains are due to partial tearing of the ligaments that keep the bones in place. Early, accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to prevent irreversible damage.

Because the wrist is composed of many small bones, all wrist injuries should be X-rayed to evaluate the possibility of a fracture. The small size of the bones and their overlapping alignment can make accurate diagnosis by X-rays difficult. Further tests, such as arthrograms and MRI scans, maybe required.

What are some of the warning signs of a more serious wrist injury?

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Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine

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