Hand & Wrist Injuries
Common hand and wrist injuries tend to happen during sports or recreational activities; work-related tasks; home projects; falls; and fistfights.
The risk of hand and wrist injury is high in contact sports, such as soccer and wrestling, and in high-speed sports, such as biking and skiing. Sports that put weight on the hands and arms, such as gymnastics, can also increase the likelihood of injuries.
In children, most hand and wrist injuries occur during play, sports, or result from a fall. Any injury occurring at the end of a long bone near a joint may injure the growth plate and needs to be evaluated.
Older adults are at higher risk for injuries and fractures because they tend to lose muscle mass and bone strength as they age. They also tend to have more problems with vision and balance, which increases their risk of injury.
Most minor injuries will heal on their own, but any of the following symptoms of hand and wrist injuries require professional care:
- Pain that is sudden and severe
- Loss of use
- Chronic pain that doesn’t subside after three days
- Obvious deformity
- Numbness or tingling
- Discoloration
- Profound swelling