Repetitive motions like when using a computer mouse and smartphone can overstrain your wrists, causing inflammation of the tendon sheaths and pain. — dpa
It may be difficult for you – perhaps even painful – to do things like pulling folders out of a filing cabinet, holding a heavy pan with one hand or unscrewing a bottle top.
Why are your wrists so weak?
And what can you do to remedy the problem?
Using your smartphone and a computer mouse less frequently can help spare your wrists, as “repetitive motions can overstrain them, causing inflammation of the tendon sheaths and pain”, says German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU) wrist surgery division head Dr Tim Tobias Lögters.
He estimates that roughly half of all wrist problems after age 40 are due to injuries, and the majority of the rest to disease.
There are a number of possible causes of wrist pain and dysfunction besides inflamed tendons.
“For one thing, people over 40 can suffer from constricted nerve canals, often experiencing tingling in their fingers, especially at night,” says Dr Lögters.
The affected areas are the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.
A cyst in the wrist joint capsule is a further possible cause.
“How clearly they can be seen varies, with sizes ranging from that of a millet grain to a pea or plum pit,” he says.
Known as ganglion cysts, they can arise when pressure on the joint causes excess joint fluid, aka synovial fluid, to protrude from the capsule.
Another common cause of wrist pain is wear and tear on the joint over time, leading to osteoarthritis.
Moving the wrist is then often painful.
“In cases of a fracture, pain is typically felt when the wrist is at rest too,” he says.
It’s important to have acute pain, along with any other problems, checked by a medical specialist – an orthopaedist or trauma surgeon – according to Dr Lögters.
He warns that “apparently minor injuries can also result in structural damage, for example, to ligaments.
“Sometimes, symptoms don’t appear until years later.”
This is why, he says, it’s a good idea to see a specialist, even if a wrist injury doesn’t cause acute pain.
While it’s OK to immobilise an injured wrist for up to two weeks, this is “by no means a long-term solution”, he says.
On the contrary, movement can help to strengthen the surrounding muscles, tendons, joint, and even bone structure, he notes – all of which is important for the wrist’s suppleness.
To help prevent wrist problems, Dr Lögters recommends eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, focused particularly on functional, holistic fitness.
“By strengthening your neck and back muscles, you’ll also do your wrists good,” he says, “because a strong musculature can also help strengthen nerve pathways.” – By Isabelle Modler/dpa
