What are the possible courses of action to address various causes of wrist pain associated with sports like archery, bowling and racket sports?

Doctor's Answers 1

Photo of Dr Aaron Gan
Dr Aaron Gan

Hand Surgeon

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:

  1. Stop the aggravating activity.
  2. Rest and ice the painful region.
  3. Seek early treatment from a specialist hand & wrist surgeon.

Similar Questions

What could be the cause of a painful lump near the wrist area? (photo)

Lumps can be from different causes: 1. Skin 2. Soft tissue 3. Bones 4. Joints Common causes around the wrist are ganglions and these can cause pain at times. It maybe worth visiting a MSK/Sports Physician for an assessment and sameday ultrasound assessment before deciding on further treatment. Hope this helps. Bw Dr.

Photo of Dr Dinesh Sirisena

Answered By

Dr Dinesh Sirisena

Sport Medicine

How should I investigate the cause of persistent wrist pain on lifting objects?

Thank you for your question - it is certainly a common problem that I see in the clinical setting, particularly amongst younger patients. Broadly speaking, pain in the wrist can be from a structural or functional issue. When I mean "structural", this can be from the bones, joint, ligaments, tendons, nerves or skin that make up the wrist joint. If there has been an anatomical insult/injury to any of these, it can cause pain symptoms. Often, a thorough clinical examination is required to localise the pain and investigations/treatments can be targeted accordingly.

Photo of Dr Dinesh Sirisena

Answered By

Dr Dinesh Sirisena

Sport Medicine

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