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Overstrained wrist
If you have an overstrained wrist, it means that you have performed a movement too frequently without being sufficiently trained for the movement. There are eight small bones in the wrist that create movement between the two bones of the forearm and the five finger bones of the middle hand. Bone ends that meet have articular cartilage and a joint capsule around the joint. There are also other soft tissues in the wrist, various fascia structures, such as periosteum, ligaments and tendons. Overuse means that there is a change in the composition of the tissue, a densification, which signals pain with pressure on pain receptors.
Overstrained wrist – what is it?
An overstrained wrist means that you have done too frequent, repetitive work that affects the wrist and for which you were not adequately trained. This creates a change in the composition of the soft tissue, known as densification, which then presses on pain receptors that signal pain and wrist pain occurs.
Symptoms of overstrained wrist
The symptoms of an overstrained wrist are mainly pain and difficulty performing certain movements with the wrist. Pain may also radiate up the arm. The wrist may become warm and possibly slightly swollen.
What causes overstrained wrist?
An overstrained wrist is caused by performing a task, a movement that affects the wrist and for which you have not been trained. When the movement is performed too often and too much, the wrist becomes overstretched.
Why have I overstrained my wrist?
The wrist is easily overstrained during frequent activities involving holding a tool. A common cause of wrist strain is suddenly taking up a racket sport or golf and not starting gently enough and building up. It’s easy to overlook the fact that your body is telling you when you’re having fun. Listening to your body and building up your strength gradually is important. In the spring, when the garden starts to sprout and suddenly, after a long rest, there is a rush to weed, dig and do other gardening work, it can also quickly cause a strained wrist.
When and where should I seek treatment for an overstrained wrist?
If your wrist is overstrained, you probably do not need to seek any special treatment. Avoid the strain that triggered the pain. A Fascia Clinic can help relieve excess strain and imbalances and get flow going throughout the body to facilitate healing and recovery.
How is an overstrained wrist treated?
Maintaining flow and mobility in the wrist is important for good healing. Treatment at a Fascia Clinic can further improve flow and mobility in the hand, arm and whole body which also reduces the direction of pain receptors.
Overstrained wrist – What can I do myself?
First of all, you should let your wrist rest from the movement that caused the overstrain. If you’ve been playing too much tennis or golf, it might be a good idea to rest for a couple of weeks and then start again more gently. However, it is important to move the wrist with other types of movements and avoid the strain that triggered the overuse.
It may be helpful to wrap the wrist with an elastic support bandage to provide support and prevent too much movement between the wrist joints.
Exercises for overstrained wrists
It is important to move the wrist but without strain. Stretch and bend gently as long as it does not trigger too much pain. Stretch your arms up towards the ceiling and angle your hands so that your palms are facing upwards. This increases mobility and relaxation in the neck, thoracic spine, shoulders, shoulders and arms. Move your arms up and down like picking apples on a high branch.
