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A wrist sprain is stretching or tearing of the ligaments that support the wrist. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to each other. Repetitive motion can also lead to these types of injuries.

Wrist Sprain

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The most common cause of a wrist sprain is falling on an outstretched hand.

These factors increase your chance of developing a wrist sprain. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

• Playing sports
• Poor coordination
• Poor balance
• Inadequate flexibility and strength in muscles and ligaments
• Loose joints
• Not wearing wrist guards during activities such as in-line skating

If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume they are due to a wrist sprain. These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. Tell your doctor if you have any of these:

• Pain, tenderness, and swelling around the wrist
• Redness, warmth, or bruising around the wrist
• Limited ability to move the wrist

It can be hard to tell the difference between a wrist sprain and a fracture or dislocation of one of the small wrist bones. See your doctor if there is any obvious deformity, swelling, or inability to move the wrist or hand.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and how you injured your wrist. An exam of your wrist will be done to check the stability of the joint and the severity of the injury.

Tests may include:

• X-ray—a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones
  • This is done to make sure no bones are broken. Sometimes fractures may not become visible on x-rays until several weeks have passed. X-rays can also show bones that move out of place because the ligaments that stabilize them have been torn.
• MRI scan—a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of structures inside the body
• CT scan—a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the body
• Arthroscopy—a thin, lighted tube inserted through a small incision to look at structures inside the body
• Bone scan—a test that detects areas of increased or decreased bone turnover
  • This is sometimes needed to reveal hidden fractures.

Wrist sprains are graded according to their severity:

Treatment includes:

Wrist sprains usually occur from accidents that cannot be prevented. However, wearing protective wrist guards when in-line skating will help prevent wrist sprains caused by falling while skating.