A torn ligament of the wrist refers to the tear of the medial (inner) or lateral (outer) ligament connecting the ulna and radius to the wrist. The ligaments stabilize the wrist from the sides and prevent the wrist from slipping. A torn ligament on the wrist is most often caused by sports injuries, where the hand is under particular strain. Sports such as handball, squash, tennis, volleyball, basketball and others are particularly common. Either a tear is caused by an acute trauma, such as a ball or a blow on it, or by long wear and tear.
Therapy/treatment
The therapy for torn ligaments in the wrist should be symptom-related. Immediately after the injury, a doctor should be consulted who can assess the extent of the injury by means of an X-ray or MRI.
- Depending on the trauma of the injury, other structures may also be involved and these injuries should be excluded.
In most cases, the affected person receives painkillers and a splint prescribed by the doctor.
- In the acute phase, physiotherapy relieves pain and reduces swelling. Decongestant lymphatic vessels along the entire hand including the fingers and arm promote lymph drainage.
- To relieve pain, the therapist cools the affected area with a cooling pad and carefully mobilizes the wrist to minimize swelling.
- Kinesiotape can also support lymph drainage and stabilize the wrist even in the acute phase.
- In order to dampen the sympathetic nervous system and thus achieve general relaxation, heat treatment in the thoracic spine or soft tissue techniques and mobilization in this area can be used.
From the proliferation phase onwards, a new inflammatory stimulus can be induced by transverse friction on the ligament structures, which further stimulates wound healing. Mobility should also be improved.
In most cases, this is further restricted by fear of pain or still existing swelling. By mobilization in flexion and extension, movement is stimulated and finally achieved by manual therapy, if after several weeks there is still no clear improvement. If pain is still present, it should be treated with cold or heat therapy.
The tension caused by the pain can lead to tension of the entire forearm musculature. This area should be loosened by soft tissue techniques, fascial solution and massage grips. Heat has a very positive supporting effect.
Once the pain and movement restrictions have been eliminated in the consolidation phase, muscular stabilization can begin. All exercises in which the patient has to support with the hand are suitable. Strength building for the entire shoulder-arm complex via dips, pulling exercises with the TRX trainer or on the rope pull, push-ups and general support exercises are also particularly important. Electrotherapy and stabilizing taping are also helpful in all phases of wound healing. Further articles that might be of interest to you are:
- Hand support
- Side support
- Four-footed stand on flat surfaces or even more effectively on uneven surfaces such as wobble cushions or spinning tops promote proprioception
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
- EMS Training
- Isometric exercises
- Exercises with the Theraband
All articles in this series: