Wrist pain can get in the way of lots of everyday activities. Nearly everyone — office and construction workers, athletes, musicians, and crafters — all need healthy, functioning wrist joints to perform their daily activities. So what should you do if you’re experiencing wrist pain? Thankfully, there are many different treatment options out there, including chiropractic care, to help you get back to normal.
Causes
Wrist pain can be caused by many different types of activities or underlying conditions. Here are some of the most common:
- Repetitive movement: Repeating the same movements over and over again can cause inflammation or stress fractures. These movements could be everyday activities related to work or hobbies such as typing on a keyboard, playing an instrument, using a screwdriver, knitting, or hitting a baseball.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: This condition causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues. Wrists are commonly affected in those with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Sudden impact: If you fall forward onto your hand, you may sprain, strain, or fracture your wrist. These injuries can also be caused by car accidents.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: This occurs when there’s increased pressure on the median nerve, which runs from the forearm to the palm of the hand. This pressure can be caused by high-force activities such as hammering and may lead to numbness, pain, or weakness in the hand, wrist, or fingers. Previous injury to the wrist increases the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.
Chiropractic Treatments
The type of treatment for wrist pain varies widely depending on its cause. Minor sprains and strains often heal on their own when treated with ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain medication, but other conditions need specialized care from a medical professional. Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in treating a number of different causes of wrist pain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chiropractic care has been useful in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Chiropractic adjustments can decrease inflammation in the wrist and relieve pressure on the median nerve.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
Patients with injuries caused by repetitive movement can also benefit from chiropractic care. Adjustments can provide relief from pain and discomfort, decrease inflammation, and increase joint flexibility and range of motion as you recover.
Because repetitive stress injuries result in stiffness, soreness, and stress in affected joints, chiropractors may use both manual therapy (joint manipulation) and soft tissue therapy (massage) to relax muscles and release tension.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
If you have wrist pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, gentle chiropractic techniques may help you find relief; however, manual therapy on active flare-ups should generally be avoided since it can further damage fragile joints.
Even if the chiropractor never directly touches the affected joint, treatment of the surrounding area is still beneficial. For instance, if a patient is experiencing pain due to rheumatoid arthritis in their wrist, they might compensate for lack of range of motion by overusing their elbow, shoulder, or finger joints. Chiropractors can treat those secondary pains, decreasing the patient’s overall level of discomfort.
Additionally, chiropractors can use specialized treatments such as ultrasound waves, electrotherapy, lasers, or infrared saunas to treat rheumatoid arthritis pain.
Other Injuries
Chiropractic care can also help those experiencing wrist pain due to a fracture, sprain, or strain. As you heal, chiropractors can relieve pain and help you regain strength and range of motion. Like in instances where wrist pain is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, these injuries may lead to secondary pain elsewhere in the body, and chiropractors can treat these areas as well.
Prevention
Building bone strength can help prevent wrist fractures. Getting 1,000-1,200 milligrams of calcium a day can help make sure your bones are strong enough to withstand sudden impacts.
The type of gear and equipment you use in your everyday activities can also make a difference. Using protective gear such as wrist guards when doing athletic activities can prevent stress injuries and cushion falls. Ergonomic keyboards and wrist supports help wrists stay in a relaxed, neutral position, making it less likely to develop pain from repetitive movement.
Chiropractic care has also been shown to prevent injuries throughout the body by correcting misaligned joints, which helps injuries heal quicker and prevent new injuries from occurring. Elevate Wellness specializes in sports therapy, which is helpful for anyone looking to prevent future injuries.
Whole-Body Wellness
Elevate Wellness is dedicated to helping patients in the Bountiful, Utah, area achieve their health goals and receive care for their individual needs. If you’re exploring treatment options for pain or injury, consider Elevate Wellness to help you live your best, pain-free life!