The Most Common Hand and Wrist Injuries in Sports

Hand and Wrist Injuries in Sports

An athlete’s hand and wrist injuries are divided into two categories: acute injuries and chronic injuries. Traumatic injuries frequently occur in athletes who participate in high-intensity sports with a high risk of impact. This includes activities such as football, basketball and tennis. The most common acute injuries are:

• Dislocations
• Muscle strains
• Sprains
• Tendon inflammation
• Tendon ruptures
• Finger fractures

Chronic injuries usually occur due to long-term overuse, for example when an athlete repeatedly performs a specific movement, which commonly occurs in sports such as tennis or golf. Common chronic injuries include:

• Tendinitis, such as de Quervain’s tenosynovitis or thumb tendinitis
• Chronic Sprains
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

When is a hand or wrist injury serious?

You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Severe swelling accompanied by pain
• Numbness
• A grinding or shifting sensation when moving your finger, hand or wrist
• Any deformity of the fingers

How is a hand or wrist injury treated?

For minor hand or wrist injuries, home treatments include rest, ice therapy, compression and elevation of the affected limb and help relieve pain, swelling and stiffness. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also help reduce inflammation and pain. In some cases, the patient may need to tape the fingers together or wear a protective wrist / finger immobilisation splint for a certain period of time. Physiotherapy helps achieve faster recovery and return to sport. In some cases, treatment may include an injection of biological agents (PRP).

In persistent chronic injuries or certain acute injuries, such as dislocations or displaced fractures, surgical treatment is recommended using minimally invasive techniques and modern methods employed by orthopaedic surgeon Andreas Leonidou and his team.

Read also: Wrist Pain While Typing? Find Out Why, Elbow Epicondylitis – Tennis Elbow and Robotic Knee Arthroplasty – Robotic vs Conventional. More answers in the frequently asked questions.