It’s easy to overlook how often we use our hands and wrists throughout the day. We use them to touch things, hold items, get dressed, brush our teeth, open doors, and just about everything else that we do. However, it becomes even more apparent how important they are to our daily lives when they’re damaged and painful to use.

Because these body parts are so crucial, it’s important to protect them as best as you can and prevent damage, injury, and disease.

Deal with an injury at the first symptoms

If you’re experiencing pain in your wrist, it’s critical that you see a doctor to discuss your symptoms. When you ignore your symptoms, they will only get worse and you’ll have to deal with even more pain. It can also lead to serious damage. If you have pain in your wrist, it’s likely that there’s a problem with the joint or the nerve. If this problem is left untreated, it’s possible that you may have to deal with it for the rest of your life.

Recover properly after an injury

After you’ve seen a doctor about your injury and received the appropriate treatment, be sure to follow the doctor’s directions properly in order for your wrist to heal. You may be required to rest for a certain amount of time, so make sure that you don’t start using your wrist before it’s fully recovered.

Performing tasks that require you to use your wrist could lead to reinjury if you aren’t completely healed. Avoid permanent damage and additional pain by resting your wrist after an injury.

Participate in physical therapy

Now that you’ve received treatment for your injury and rested for the proper amount of time, it’s likely that your next step is physical therapy. Physical therapy consists of gentle stretches and repetitive exercises to help you regain range of motion in your wrist.

Some patients may feel pain-free after their wrist treatment so they don’t participate in physical therapy exercises, or they stop after only a few days. But if you don’t participate in physical therapy for the prescribed amount of time, you’ll eventually begin to experience stiffness and pain, and you won’t be able to use your wrist like you did before the injury.

Guards and supports

To protect your wrists from injury, or from becoming reinjured, make sure to utilize wrist guards or supports when participating in activities that can potentially cause pain or damage. It’s crucial to wear protective guards or supports when golfing and doing yoga since you rely heavily on your wrists during these activities.

It’s also important to protect your wrists while participating in activities where you’re not using your wrists at all. Sports such as soccer and snowboarding don’t require the use of your hands, but in the event of a fall, serious damage could occur.

Take these tips into consideration and implement them to reduce the risk of wear and tear on your wrists.

If you’re considering undergoing surgery to treat your wrist injury, click here to download our e-book, How to Choose an Orthopaedic Surgeon. This educational guide will provide you with all the information you need to find a reputable surgeon.