What Sports Cause Wrist Injuries And How You Can Prevent Them

Athletes and sportspersons require repetitive movements of hands and wrists to perform well in several sports. These repetitive movements can cause severe wrist injuries. As well as this, direct hitting on objects or opponents and direct falling on an outstretched hand can also cause wrist injuries. In this article, we are going to discuss the most common sports that may result in wrist injuries. We have also discussed the possible preventive measures that can greatly reduce the chances of wrist injuries. So, let’s begin here; 

What sports can cause wrist injuries

The following are the most common sports that can cause wrist injuries:

1. Wrist injuries in boxing

Boxing is a high contact sport that requires repetitive movements of hands and wrists while attacking or punching the opponents and defending yourself. This repetitive motion can put extra pressure on your hands and wrists. The most common wrist injuries in boxing are scapholunate instability, finger metacarpophalangeal (MCP), carpometacarpal instability, thumb ulnar collateral ligament sprains, and joints sprain.

How to prevent wrist injuries in boxing?

You need to follow the given preventive measures to prevent wrist injuries in boxing:

• Skilled coach: Practice under the skilled coach and properly learn all the punching and defending techniques.
• Hand wraps: Hand wraps help stabilise and support hand and wrist structure on strike impact, helping prevent injuries to the metacarpal bones.
• Boxing gloves: Ensure that you wear the correct size of boxing gloves to perform well and safely.
• Physical conditioning: Ensure that your body is warmed up and conditioned, helping increase tendons’ elasticity and flexibility.

2. Wrist injuries in football

Footballers, when colliding with opponents, can hurt their hands or wrists. As well as this, falling on an outstretched hand can also cause wrist and hand injuries in football. Whenever you feel wrist pain during or after sports, you need to leave the field and consult your GP to diagnose the symptoms. Remember that if left untreated, symptoms may worsen and can keep you away from the field for longer.

How to prevent wrist injuries in football:

The given preventive measure will help you avoid wrist injuries in football:

• Body warm-up: Never forget to warm up your body before entering the playing field. 
• Wear protective gear: Ensure that you wear all the necessary protective gear. For example, wrapping sports tape and wearing gloves help prevent extra stress on the hands and wrists. 
• Avoid falling and colliding: Be a little conscious while playing and avoid colliding with the opponents and falling on the ground.

3. Wrist injuries in golf

Golfers involve repetitive movements of hands and wrists while making shots, especially when swinging the ball. This repetitive or swinging motion can significantly put extra pressure and stress on the wrist joints and tendons, resulting in wrist pain. Wrist tendinitis and wrist sprains are the most common wrist problem among golfers, resulting in wrist pain and tenderness to touch. As well as this, the pain gets worse while flexing or extending wrists and gripping or lifting objects.

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How to prevent wrist injuries in golf?

It is advisable to follow the given preventive measures to avoid the chances of wrist injuries in golf:

• Learn proper technique: Poor shots or swings can put extra pressure on your wrists, resulting in wrist problems.
• Avoid hitting rocks: Sometimes, golfers hit the grounds and rocks, which significantly impact your wrist joints and tendons. So, avoid hitting rocks or grounds.   
• Wear wrist supports: Wearing wrist supports for golf helps stabilise and support your wrists, helping enhance performance and avoid the chances of injuries.
• Stretching exercises: Regular stretching exercises help keep your wrists’ tendons flexible and elastic, preventing the effects of overuse and repetitive motion.
• Wear right sized golf club: Wrong sized golf club makes your grip disturbed and puts extra stress on your wrist joints. Always choose a rightsized or oversized golf club to have a safe playing experience. 

4.  Wrist injuries in the gym

Many gym enthusiasts experience hand and wrist pain during or after their gym sessions. The common causes of wrists and hand pain during gym are poor form or positioning, joints weakness, repetitive movements of wrists, lifting heavy objects, working out too much too quickly, and more. Remember that all these actions significantly put great force on your wrists and may result in some severe conditions. Common wrist injuries found in the gym are joint dislocation, wrist fracture, ligaments tear, tendons tear, and wrist tendinitis.

How to prevent wrist injuries in the gym?

The given preventive measures can help you reduce the chances of wrist injuries in the gym:

• Warm up correctly: The gym requires hard exercises; this is why most trainers suggest warming up your body correctly before starting your sessions.
• Proper form and positioning: Poor posture can put you at a high risk of injuries, so improve your form and posture.
• Supportive equipment: Wearing protective gear, especially workout gloves, help reduce the chances of extra stress and pressure, providing a safe gym experience. 
• Take frequent breaks: Take regular breaks and avoid lifting too much weight quickly.

5. Wrist injuries in Tennis

Wrist injuries in tennis players most commonly occur due to overuse, improper techniques, and improper equipment. A tennis player is continuously involved in the wrist’s repetitive motions during stroke, predisposing a player to wrist injuries. Wrist tendinitis, wrist fractures, and carpal tunnel syndrome are the most common wrist injuries found in tennis players. The wrist injury is common in tennis players of all ages.

How to prevent wrist injuries in tennis?

Experts suggest following the given preventive measures to avoid the chances of wrist injuries in tennis:

• Regular stretching exercises: Regular stretching exercises help keep your muscles active and improve your range of motion, helping prevent the impacts of overuse and repetitive motions.
• Use proper equipment: Ensure that you are using the right equipment, especially a rightsized racquet while playing. 
• Wear protective gear: It is advisable wearing protective gear, such as wrist supports for tennis, to support your wrist joints and tendons.
• Warm up your body: Ensure that your body is fully warmed up before entering the tennis court.

Does wearing wrist supports help?

Every time you feel wrist pain or are suspected of hurting your wrist during sports, you need to wear wrist supports or braces. Wrist supports are designed to provide your wrists with enough stability and support, helping protect your wrists against overuse injuries.

As well as this, these wrist supports also provide needed compressions and warmth to the injured areas of your wrists, helping speed up the recovery process following a wrist injury or surgery.

Buy the best wrist supports There are a number of wrists supports and braces are available nowadays. Choosing the right product according to your needs may be sometimes challenging. It is advisable to consult your healthcare advisor or professional sports trainers to select the correct wrist supports for you. At 360 relief, you can find a variety of best wrist supports, along with a range of color and sizes, to help manage your wrist problems.