Whether you’re catching and throwing a ball, standing on your hands, lifting heavy weights, or working at a computer, everybody uses their hands and wrists in their day-to-day life. In sporting athletes, hand and wrist injuries make up 25% of all injuries. They can be quite painful and debilitating, leading to a decline in performance and a large impact in your day-to-day activities. Due to the complex and multitude of structures in the wrist, it can often be difficult to determine what is causing your wrist pain. However, a better understanding of what is causing pain in your hand and wrist can give you a better idea of what needs to be done to manage your pain.
Ligament injury – Ligament injury, often called “Wrist sprains” usually happen after a traumatic event such as a fall, finger dislocation, or jarring a finger. There are multiple ligaments in the hand that can be injured but the most common ligaments injured are the ones that hold the bones in your wrist together. Symptoms of ligament injuries vary from person to person but it is usually accompanied by swelling, bruising, clicking sensation, loss of grip strength, a snapping or popping sensation, or pain when twisting your wrist.
Fracture – Fractures commonly happen in the forearm bones or the small wrist bones and usually happen after falling over and landing on the hand, during high impact sports, or during a car/motorbike accident. When you fracture your wrist, it is commonly associated with a crack or popping noise at the time of injury and there may be a deformity in your arm. This popping is accompanied by swelling, bruising, tenderness, and great difficulty moving the wrist. It’s important that broken wrists are treated as soon as possible so that bones heal properly and there are no permanent problems.
Arthritis – Arthritis is common in middle aged to elderly people but it is still possible to get it in your hand and wrist when you are young. You are more likely to be affected by arthritis if your family members have or have had it. The three most common types of arthritis that affect the wrist are Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, and post-traumatic arthritis. In the age where the majority of people are using hand-held devices and with the increase in number of office workers, the prevalence of hand and wrist osteoarthritis is becoming greater and greater. The most common symptom that suggests the presence of arthritis is swelling and a deformity of the hand. Other symptoms include tenderness, redness, warmth, and stiffness.
Muscle overuse – People who are required to continuously use their hands through the day are most susceptible to suffering overuse injuries. This can range from office workers who are constantly typing and using pens, construction workers who are continuously hammering and lifting objects, and even mothers who are constantly picking up their newborn babies. Prolonged periods of high load or stress on the muscles and tendons can cause them to become irritated and inflamed and cause changes to the structure. Common symptoms of overuse problems include pain, tenderness, and decreased strength.
Nerve issues – Because the hand is a very sensitive area, there are many nerves which can cause pain and discomfort when injured. Nerves can be injured from trauma such as being cut, crushed, or overstretched but can also be injured from prolonged periods of pressure, especially in office workers who are pressing against their nerves when they are typing all day. When the nerves are injured, they are unable to deliver messages properly to the hand resulting in burning or freezing sensation, pins and needles, numbness, decreased strength, un-coordinated movement, and reduced ability to feel sensations or surfaces.
So if you or someone you know has been getting pain in their hands and wrist and are unsure what the cause is or what you can do to get better, book an appointment to see one of our friendly physiotherapists at our Carlingford (9871 2022) or Kellyville (9672 6752) practice.
Kevin Guo B.AppSc (Physiotherapy
