Engaging in sports requiring the strenuous and repetitive use of the wrist(s) may potentially cause injury. The most important way to prevent injury is:
- proper training and
- conditioning of the relevant muscles in the forearm which control the wrist joint.
Strong muscles with good stamina are a foundation to a stable and resilient wrist. A trained hand occupational therapist or upper limb physiotherapist can help the individual perform the correct exercises to achieve this.
Once an injury occurs in the wrist, the initial course of action is to stop the physical activity that aggravates or causes pain. Early attention by a hand & wrist specialist will help to halt further damage and start immediate treatment for fast recovery and rehabilitation.
The most common injuries sustained in sports such as:
- archery,
- bowling and
- racket sports
The injuries include tendinitis, ligament sprains and tears. Less commonly, fractures and dislocations can occur in the wrist from higher energy injuries which include falls and tumbles associated with these sports.
First and foremost, it is important to obtain the right diagnosis. A hand & wrist specialist will be able to accurately make a diagnosis through clinical history, examination and investigations such as:
- X-rays,
- CT scans and
- MRI scans.
The information gathered through these will then allow the specialist to institute the proper treatment, which may range from simple resting and splinting, to more invasive treatments such as injections or surgery.
In summary, the initial course of action for wrist pain associated with the above sports is:
- Stop the aggravating activity.
- Rest and ice the painful region.
- Seek early treatment from a specialist hand & wrist surgeon.