Sports Medicine
A Crucial Period
Good Pain, Bad Pain
On Your Knees
Secondary Injuries
Imaging Technology
What's Sciatica?
The Female Athlete
Putting Your Feet First
Itis Schmitis
Too Much, Too Soon
Under the Influence
Twisted (Ankle)
What's Goin' On?
Think Inches, Not Pounds
Preventing Vaginitis
That Painful Pull
Athlete's Heart
Exercise & Arthritis
Chilled to the Bone
Measuring Body Fat
Exercise and Your Breasts
Choosing a Sports Doctor
Lean on Me (Shoulder)
Exercise & Anemia
Exercise Abuse
Pelvis Sighting
Hand Aid
It's All in the Wrist
Back in Action
Altitude Adjustment
Tennis Elbow, Anyone?
Exercising in the Heat
Agony of the Feet
Restless Legs
Night Time Cramps
Birth Control Concerns
No Periods, No Babies?
Post Partum Prescription
Weight Loss Mystery
Undesirable Cooldown
To Brew Or Not To Brew
Fitness After Baby
Biking and Back Pain
Swimmer's Shoulder
A Hidden Athlete
Avoiding Osteoporosis
Drug Testing
Maximum Heart Rate
Headway Against Headaches
Torn Rotator Cuff
Fat Figures
SOS About PMS
Bloody Urine
Sag Story
Lackluster Leg
Bothersome Bulge
Gaining in Years
Taking It On the Shin
Aching Ankles
Hoop Help
Tender Toes
Meals For Muscle
Growing Pains
Hot Tips
High Altitude PMS
Personal Bests
Air Pollution
Ankle Blues
Heartbreak Heel
Yeast Relief

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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Table of Contents

Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine



General Health
Nutrition
Exercise
Common Medical Problems
Dental Health
Emergency!
Infectious Disease
Sexual Health
Emotional Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Environmental Health
Prevention


The information in this web site is for educational purposes only and is not providing medical or professional advice. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you have or suspect you might have any health problems, you should consult a physician.


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