Ever thought about getting a wrist support or wrist brace to help decrease pain? Maybe you have carpal tunnel syndrome and have been told that a brace or splint can help. Maybe you developed tendinitis from jumping too quickly into exercise without working your way up.
Whatever the case, you may have considered getting a wrist brace or support to help decrease the pain. But, so many options exist when it comes to wrist supports, wrist wraps, wrist braces etc. It can be confusion to wade through all the various options out there.
Questions & Answers: Wrist Braces & Splints
I was recently asked a bunch of questions about wrist braces and wrist splints for a course I was teaching for upper extremity rehabilitation. I thought that the questions and answers would be helpful to people out there wondering about which type of brace or support to get, or whether they even needed to get a wrist brace in the first place.
So, I compiled all of the questions and have listed the, below along with a brief answer for each.
Why are wrist support products or wrist braces helpful for conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or tendonitis?
Wrist supports, splints, braces, and other orthoses play an important role in injury recovery, pain reduction, and symptom management for various conditions and diagnoses. For example, research shows that wearing splits at night if you have carpal tunnel has a great impact on delaying or preventing the need for surgery.
For some types of arthritis, wrist braces have been shown to improve strength and decrease pain. This primarily occurs because the splints provide stability to the wrist, which can degrade with arthritis. For tendinitis, wrist braces help mainly by immobilizing the area, allowing the inflamed tendons to heal.
When looking for a wrist brace of wrist support, what should people look for?
It’s important to understand the reasoning behind the use of wrist splints given the specific condition before choosing a brace or splint. For example, if immobilization is the desired goal (such as with carpal tunnel or tendinitis), then the splint should have some rigidity (like this wrist cockup splint). Some splints have metal or plastic stays in them which prevent the joint from moving.
If stabilization during activity is the goal (as with certain braces for arthritis), then looking for a splint or brace that acts more as a support wrap (like this wrap), rather than an immobilizer, is desirable. You may also consider kinesiology tape for this purpose.
As a general rule, wrist braces and orthoses should not extend the full thength of the palm. You want to be able to still bend your fingers to hold things in your hand. You want to be able to make a full fist. Also, unless compression is desired, you should be able to get a finger underneath the brace or splint. You don’t want it so tight that it limits circulation or causes vascular problems.
Will wrapping a wrist help with pain?
Wrapping the wrist, either with ace bandage or a wrist support/wrap can be an effective method for reducing pain, at least in the short term. When you wrap an area of the body, providing some compression, you activate mechanoreceptors (a type of nerve). Research shows that applying some novel sensory input to mechanoreceptors can increase proprioception (your body’s awareness of its position in space) as well as reduce pain.
What conditions can a hand or wrist brace treat?
Generally, wrist/hand braces can be used to treat conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and sprains/ligament injuries. Some specialized splints can also be used for finger/hand injuries and conditions. For example, a CMC immobilizer brace can be used to decrease pain associated with thumb CMC arthritis.
What are the different types of wrist braces for arthritis?
Primarily, for wrist arthritis, the options include some form of wrist wrap support, wrist cock-up splints, or wrist/hand orthoses.
Summary
Wading through all of the options and information about wrist braces can be challenging and confusing. When in doubt, always seek the guidance of a licensed clinician like a physical or occupational therapist, or a doctor. The main points to remember include picking the right brace given the desired goal. If immobilization is the goal, get something that has some rigidity to prevent movement. If stabilization is the goal, something that provides support through movement is ideal. And this point can not be overstated: make sure it fits well! I can’t tell you how many patients I see in a given month who went out and bought a wrist brae because they were told it would help, but the brace can’t do its job because it’s too big, too tight, etc.
And, if you want to get guidance on your specific wrist issue and insight as to which brace may be right for you, book an appointment with us here.
