From the Guidelines
A wrist sprain is treated with the RICE protocol: Rest the wrist by limiting movement, Ice the area for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours for the first 48 hours, Compress with an elastic bandage, and Elevate the wrist above heart level when possible. The symptoms of a wrist sprain may include pain, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility of the wrist. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (400-600mg every 6-8 hours) or acetaminophen (500-1000mg every 6 hours) can help manage pain and reduce inflammation, as suggested by 1. Limit the use of anti-inflammatory medications to 7-10 days to avoid side effects. Most mild to moderate wrist sprains heal within 2-6 weeks. During recovery, gradually reintroduce normal activities and perform gentle stretching exercises to maintain flexibility. If pain is severe, worsens after 48 hours, or if you notice significant swelling, bruising, numbness, or inability to move your fingers, seek medical attention as these may indicate a more serious injury like a fracture or ligament tear. Wrist sprains occur when ligaments connecting the wrist bones are stretched or torn due to sudden force or twisting, and proper treatment is essential to prevent chronic instability or weakness. Some key considerations for treatment include:
- Initial treatment should focus on nonpharmacological approaches, such as physical therapy, heat/cold, and orthotics, as recommended by 1.
- Pharmacological treatments, such as acetaminophen or aspirin, should be considered if nonpharmacological approaches are ineffective, with the goal of using the least risky medication first, as suggested by 1.
- For chronic wrist pain, radiographs are indicated as the first imaging test, and advanced imaging with MRI, CT, or ultrasound may be necessary if radiographs are normal or equivocal, as recommended by 1. It is essential to prioritize the patient's morbidity, mortality, and quality of life when making treatment decisions, and to consider the most recent and highest-quality evidence available, such as the study by 1, which provides evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of chronic wrist pain.
From the Research
Symptoms of Wrist Sprain
- Pain in the wrist area, with a reported 7/10 on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale 2
- Limited range of motion and dysfunction, with a score of 6.5/10 on the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) 2
- Swelling and inflammation, although not significantly different between treatment groups 3
- Reproduction of symptoms at specific joints, such as the lunotriquetral joint 2
Treatment Options for Wrist Sprain
- Manual therapy, including anterior to posterior non-thrust mobilization at the triquetrum on lunate 2
- Education on manual therapy modifications, isometrics, and self-mobilization 2
- Combined cryotherapy and compression using devices like Cryo/Cuff, although with conflicting clinical results 3
- A systematic approach for clinical evaluation of the wrist, including a basic clinical examination (BCE) process and special testing 4
- Proper diagnosis and identification of specific injuries to achieve proper understanding and treatment of the injury 5, 6