7 Most Common Wrist Conditions….
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
There is a tunnel called the carpal tunnel in our wrist, containing nerves that supply our hands’ sensations and hand muscles. Due to certain causes, this nerve (Median) gets compressed in this tunnel which results in loss of sensation and weakness in hand movements. Among many of the causes of these conditions, the most common are Pregnancy, over-use, heredity, and trauma.
Pain, tingling, and numbness in the hand along with weakness in certain grips are commonly seen in carpal tunnel syndrome. There could be difficulty in performing fine movements with hands like buttoning clothes, holding small objects with fingers, typing, cutting/styling hair, and scanning for cashiers.
2. Ganglion Cysts
A ganglion cyst is a benign swelling that is often seen on the joints or tendons in hands and feet. The most common site of the cysts is the dorsum of the hand/wrist. The size of the cyst differs with every person, it can totally disappear with time.
It could appear without any cause and women are 3 times more prone to get it than men. Ganglion cysts are usually present with mild symptoms like dull aching pain, change in size, sensory nerve dysfunction, and spontaneous drainage.
3. Gout
A gout is a form of acute inflammatory arthritis, which presents with frequent painful attacks. People older than 40 and especially the male population is more pronounced to get Gout. Individuals with Diabetes, Hypertension, Chronic kidney disease, and heart disease are more prevalent for this condition. It presents with a red, inflamed, swollen joint. Night pain is usually common and lasts around 10 days in the acute phase.
4. Wrist & Hand Fractures
Hand & wrist fractures are very common and are the result of various injuries. Either there is a break or crack in one or more bones of wrist and hand joints, a common mechanism of this fracture is people save themselves from falling by outstretching their hands.
Another is falling with a bent wrist. Common fractures seen in these joints are Distal radius (Colles/Smith), Scaphoid (One of the 8 bones in the hand), Metacarpal, or Phalangeal (Bones in fingers).
A person presents with common signs and symptoms of fracture like swelling, Bruising, redness, tenderness to touch, and warmth by touch. Depending on the type of fracture, the wrist might be in an unnatural position.
5. Osteoarthritis
OA is a disorder, which involves the whole joint, but has major effects on articular cartilage. Changes like narrow joint space, bony spurs, cartilage thinning, and Bone cysts are common to see in arthritic joints. The hand and wrist are common joints to get chronic OA. Middle-aged women are at greater risk than men for getting OA in the wrist and hand. Study shows that your dominant hand has more probability of getting this condition.
Wrist and Hand OA involves clinical characteristics like pain, loss of movement in joints, stiffness, and reduced grip strength, which eventually results in impaired functional activity levels.
6. Sprain & Strains
A wrist sprain means a partial or full tear in the ligaments of the wrist joint, ligaments that connect carpal bones with each other, and ligaments that connect carpal bones with radius and ulna (forearm bones). On the other hand, A wrist strain is a condition where muscles and tendons at the wrist joints are injured. Either via trauma or by overuse of stress.
The most common mechanism in wrist sprain/strain is falling on an outstretched hand. The person can show symptoms like painful motions in the wrist and hand, swelling, tenderness, and redness.
7. Tendinitis:
Wrist and hand joints have numerous muscles and tendons which are popular to get this Tendonitis: For e.g., De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, Trigger finger, Dupuytren’s contracture, and many more. Common causes of these conditions could be Overuse due to sports, profession, or leisure activities.
A person can get pain while using or doing that particular motion which involves inflamed muscle or tendon and as result, those activities become difficult to perform due to pain level and soreness.
If you are struggling to manage pain from any of the above diagnoses, our Physiotherapists can help. Please book a free consultation and we can discuss your options.
Written by:
Anjali Patel. Registered Physiotherapist Resident. Orthopaedic Physiotherapist. Concussion Management
REFERENCES:
Orthopaedic Division Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Theory Manual
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Wrist_Sprain
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Gout
Integrative Physiotherapy is a Barrie-based clinic that believes in a one-on-one patient-centered, manual therapy (hands-on) approach to physiotherapy. We aim to empower our patients by providing quality care that is personalized to each patient in an interactive and friendly manner. Through the use of the best available treatment techniques, we aim to provide exceptional care so that each patient feels engaged and motivated.
Our therapists are continually upgrading their skills and taking time to provide comprehensive assessment and treatment techniques that are always one on one without the use of assistants or double booking patients to make sure that you achieve your functional and sports goals as soon as possible.
Our therapists would be happy to help you to achieve your goals, get in touch to schedule your appointment. Don’t let pain ruin your day!
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