Common Hand and Wrist Sports Injuries

Participating in athletic activities can be rewarding and enriching in many ways, providing both physical and psychological benefits. However, there is always a heightened risk of injury associated with playing sports, and often these injuries occur to the hand or wrist. Many sports-related hand and wrist injuries can have a serious impact on your life, preventing you from performing routine daily tasks as well as robbing you of the ability to pursue your favorite athletic endeavors.

Two Categories of Sports-Related Hand and Wrist Injuries

Most sports-related hand and wrist injuries fall into two main categories:

• Traumatic (acute)
• Overuse (chronic)

Traumatic Hand and Wrist Injuries

Traumatic injuries most commonly occur in high-impact sports and are caused by a single event that damages one or more structures in the hand or wrist. Football players, basketball players, hockey players, skiers and wrestlers tend to suffer traumatic hand and wrist injuries regularly due to the nature of these sports.

Common examples of traumatic hand and wrist injuries include:

• Fractures
• Joint dislocations
• Strained muscles or tendons
• Torn ligaments

Chronic Hand and Wrist Injuries

Chronic injuries are typically stress induced. They develop slowly over time and occur most often in sports that require you to engage in repetitive motions which result in the overuse of a specific structure in the hand or wrist. Tennis players, baseball players and golfers typically develop chronic hand and wrist injuries.

Common examples of chronic hand and wrist sports injuries include:

• Tendinopathies
• Dislocated tendons
• Stress fractures
• Nerve injuries
• Skin injuries/blisters

Preventing Hand and Wrist Sports Injuries

It’s impossible to eliminate the risk of hand and wrist injuries when playing sports. Sustaining trauma is inherently part of many athletic activities, as is overuse from engaging in repetitive motions. However, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of injury. These include:

• Wear protective gear – Wearing protective gear specific to your sport (i.e. wrist guards while snowboarding) can provide considerable protection for your hands and wrists.
• Warm up – Make sure you warm up before participating in sports to make sure your body is ready to handle the impact associated with your favorite athletic activities. A proper warm up increases your heart rate and improves blood flow to your large muscle groups while performing sport-specific activities (i.e. high knees for running or ball tosses for pitchers).
• Vary your workout – Doing the same exercises or activities every day can increase your risk of overuse injuries. By varying your workout or participating in a variety of athletic activities, you can reduce the frequency of repetitive motions placing stress on your hands and wrists.
• Use equipment properly – Make sure you know how to use all gear associated with your athletic activity. Improper use of gear can increase your risk of injury.
• Take breaks – When your body is tired, you’re more likely to suffer an injury. If you feel fatigue setting in, take a break to give your body a chance to recover and recharge. Exercise with weight lifting and various forms of cross training during the off-season is an excellent way to decrease your risk of injury while improving your in-season performance.
• Work with a trainer – Working with an athletic trainer can help you develop the proper form. This will reduce your risk of injury and help you achieve peak performance.

When Should I Seek Treatment for a Sports-Related Hand or Wrist Injury?

Minor injuries can often be treated using at-home remedies such as:

• Relative rest, guided by your athletic trainer and/or sports physician
• Using an ace bandage or some other compression garment
• Elevating the hand and wrist to reduce pain and swelling
• Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen

However, if a minor injury doesn’t heal on its own after a short period of time, you should seek treatment from a sports medicine doctor to determine whether there is any serious damage to your hand or wrist that may require more extensive treatment.

If you’ve suffered a more serious injury, you should get examined by a sports medicine physician right away. In general, the following symptoms require immediate medical attention:

• Severe pain or swelling
• A clicking, grating or shifting noise when moving your hand, wrist or fingers
• Numbness
• Coldness or a grayish color in the hand, fingers or wrist

Colorado Advanced Orthopedics Can Help

At Colorado Advanced Orthopedics, we have extensive experience treating a wide range of hand and wrist injuries. Our board-certified orthopedic team has a strong background in sports medicine. Our team uses the most advanced diagnostic technology and treatment techniques to help you restore full function after your injury.

Our purpose is to provide advanced, excellent care and we strive to deliver an amazing patient experience throughout every stage of the process. You’ll benefit from working with one of the most experienced, fellowship trained orthopedic and sports medicine teams on the Western Slope who go the extra mile for you. We’re raising the bar for healthcare in the White River Valley to ensure you have access to the quality treatments you need.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment.