Wrist pain
Don't Let Wrist Pain Get the Upper Hand
From typing an email and lifting your groceries to swinging a tennis racket, your wrists are involved in almost everything you do. So when pain strikes, it doesn’t just hurt—it disrupts your entire day.
Wrist pain can be a sharp, sudden sensation or a dull, persistent ache. You might experience stiffness, weakness, tingling, or numbness in your hand and fingers. Whatever the symptom, ignoring it isn't the answer. Understanding the cause is the first step towards finding lasting relief.
The Common Culprits: What Causes Wrist Pain?
Your wrist is an incredibly complex joint, made up of eight small bones connected by a network of ligaments, tendons, and nerves. This complexity allows for a wide range of motion, but it also makes the wrist vulnerable to a variety of injuries and conditions.
Common causes of wrist pain often fall into two main categories:
1. Sudden Impact & Traumatic Injuries
These injuries happen in an instant and are usually the result of an accident or fall.
Sprains and Strains: Occur when ligaments are overstretched or torn, often from a fall onto an outstretched hand (a "FOOSH" injury).
Fractures: A break in one of the small bones of the wrist, such as the scaphoid or distal radius, requires immediate medical attention.
Impact Injuries: A direct blow to the wrist during sports or an accident can cause bruising, swelling, and significant pain.
2. Gradual Onset & Overuse Conditions
This type of pain develops over time due to repetitive stress or an underlying medical condition.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): Caused by repetitive tasks like typing, using a mouse, or working with tools. The constant motion can lead to inflammation and pain in the tendons.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A common condition where the median nerve, which runs through a narrow passageway in your wrist (the carpal tunnel), becomes compressed. This often causes tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand and fingers.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis: Painful inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, often aggravated by gripping, grasping, or making a fist.
Arthritis: Both osteoarthritis (wear-and-tear) and rheumatoid arthritis (an autoimmune condition) can cause inflammation, stiffness, and chronic pain in the wrist joint.
Ganglion Cysts: Benign, fluid-filled lumps that can develop on the tendons or joints of your wrist, sometimes causing pain if they press on a nerve.
Your Path to Recovery: Finding Lasting Wrist Pain Relief
While it may be tempting to simply rest and hope the pain goes away, this often fails to address the underlying issue. A proactive approach is key to a full recovery and preventing the problem from returning. This is where physiotherapy makes all the difference.
At Velca, we don't just treat the symptoms; we find and fix the source of your pain.
How Physiotherapy Can Help:
Accurate Diagnosis: Your journey starts with a comprehensive assessment. We listen to your story, evaluate your range of motion, and perform specific tests to pinpoint the exact cause of your wrist pain. An accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment.
Hands-On Treatment: We use proven, hands-on techniques to relieve your pain and restore mobility. This may include joint mobilisation to improve movement, soft tissue massage to release tight muscles and tendons, and taping or bracing to provide support as you heal.
Customised Exercise Programs: We will design a targeted exercise program just for you. These exercises are aimed at gently strengthening the muscles supporting your wrist, improving flexibility, and restoring full function.
Education and Ergonomic Advice: We empower you with the knowledge to prevent re-injury. We can provide expert advice on modifying your workstation, adjusting your technique in sports or hobbies, and making small daily changes that have a big impact on your wrist health.
Don't let wrist pain dictate your life any longer. Take the first step towards a pain-free future.