A sprain is an injury to a ligament. Ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that connect one bone to another. A wrist strain is an injury to the muscle or tendon. Tendons bind muscles to bones. Both are a common injury. There are many ligaments and tendons in the wrist that can be stretched or torn, resulting in a sprain or a strain. This occurs with an acute injury like a fall or can happen due to repetitive overuse jobs requiring the use of hands.
Description
Wrist sprains can range from mild to severe. They are graded depending on the degree of injury to the ligaments.
- Grade 1 — Mild strains occur when the ligaments are stretched, but not torn.
- Grade 2 — Moderate sprains occur when the ligaments are partially torn. This Grade 2 sprain may involve some loss of function.
- Grade 3 — Severe sprains occur when the ligament is completely torn. This grade is a significant injury that requires medical or surgical care. As the ligament tears away from the bone, it may also take a small chip of bone with it. This is called an avulsion fracture.
Cause
Wrist sprains are most often caused by a fall onto an outstretched hand. This might happen during everyday activities, but frequently occurs during sports and outdoor recreation. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, we highly recommend that you meet with our doctors to properly diagnose and prepare the best rehabilitation plan for you!
- Swelling in the wrist
- Pain at the time of the injury
- Persistent pain when you move your wrist
- Bruising or discoloration of the skin around the wrist
- Tenderness at the injury site
- A feeling of popping or tearing inside the wrist
- A warm or feverish feeling to the skin around the wrist
5280 Cryo offers functional rehab sessions as well as other services to assist you with retaining, re-toning, and recondition of weakened, injured, or overworked structures. If you want to be on the road to recovery, contact us to schedule an appointment.