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Wrist Injuries and Disorders
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Injuries Wounds

Wrist Injuries and Disorders

The wrist is a complex, flexible structure that is prone to various injuries and conditions due to its frequent use and range of motion.

Overview

Your wrist connects your hand to your forearm. It is not one big joint; it has several small joints. This makes it flexible and allows you to move your hand in different ways. The wrist has two big forearm bones and eight small bones known as carpals. It also has tendons and ligaments, which are connective tissues. Tendons connect muscles to bones. Ligaments connect bones to each other.

Types of Wrist Injuries and Disorders

Some of the more common types of wrist injuries and disorders are:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome, which happens when a nerve that runs from your forearm into your palm becomes squeezed at the wrist
  • Ganglion cysts, which are noncancerous lumps or masses
  • Gout, which is a form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in your joints
  • Fractures (broken bones)
  • Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis. It is caused by wear and tear of the joints.
  • Sprains and strains, which are injuries to ligaments and injuries to muscles or tendons
  • Tendinitis, inflammation of a tendon, usually due to overuse

Risk Factors

Certain things can put you at higher risk of having a wrist problem, including:

  • Doing sports, which can put you at risk for injuries and puts stress on your wrist. For example, you may fall on your outstretched hand when you are skating or snowboarding. Your wrist could be injured while doing contact sports. And other sports such as gymnastics and basketball can strain your wrists.
  • Doing repetitive wrist motions, such as typing on a keyboard, working on an assembly line, or using power tools.
  • Having certain diseases. For example, rheumatoid arthritis can cause wrist pain.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a wrist problem can vary, depending on the problem. A common symptom is wrist pain. Some other possible symptoms include swelling, a decrease in wrist strength, and sudden numbness or tingling.

Diagnosis

Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:

  • A medical history, which includes asking about your symptoms
  • A physical exam, including checking your wrist strength and range of motion
  • An x-ray or other imaging test
  • Blood tests

Treatment & Management

Treatments for wrist pain depends on the type of injury or disorder. They may include:

  • Resting your wrist
  • Wearing a wrist brace or cast
  • Pain relievers
  • Cortisone shots
  • Physical therapy
  • Surgery

Prevention

To try to prevent wrist problems, you can:

  • Use wrist guards, when doing sports that put you at risk for wrist injuries
  • In the workplace, perform stretching exercises and take frequent rest breaks. You should also pay attention to ergonomics to make sure that you are using the proper wrist position while working.
  • Make sure that you get enough calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones strong

Frequently Asked Questions

While both cause pain and swelling, a fracture is often indicated by an inability to move the wrist or hand, significant deformity, or severe pain when pressing on specific bony landmarks. If you cannot bear weight on the arm or the pain is sharp and intense rather than a dull ache, assume it is a fracture and seek an X-ray. Swelling that does not subside with ice and elevation after 24 hours also warrants imaging.
Perform wrist flexor and extensor stretches by extending your arm with the palm up and gently pulling your fingers back with the other hand, holding for 15-30 seconds. Repeat with the palm down. Additionally, practice gentle wrist circles and "prayer stretches" where you press your palms together in front of your chest and lower your hands until you feel a stretch in the forearms. Take micro-breaks every 30 minutes to shake out your hands.
Early symptoms often include tingling, numbness, or a "pins and needles" sensation in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, particularly at night or upon waking. You may also experience weakness in the hand, causing you to drop objects, or aching pain that radiates up the forearm. If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, consult a clinician to prevent permanent nerve damage.
Most ganglion cysts are harmless and may resolve on their own, so observation is the standard first approach. Surgery is typically considered only if the cyst causes significant pain, limits wrist range of motion, or compresses nearby nerves causing numbness. Aspiration (draining with a needle) is an option, but recurrence is common, so surgery is reserved for persistent, symptomatic cases that do not respond to conservative management.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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