How Do I Make a Support Band for a Weak Wrist?

Weak or painful wrists can cause a variety of problems, whether you are trying to get some work done on the computer or engaging in yoga or body building. A study in the "Canadian Journal of Medicine" says conditions that can cause wrist pain include traumatic injury, arthritis, peripheral nerve entrapment (carpal tunnel syndrome), tenosynovitis, avascular necrosis or referred pain from a curved spine or misplaced shoulder. Depending on the reason for your wrist pain, a support band may alleviate the worst of it.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton-nylon blend fabric
• Scissors
• Sewing machine or needle and thread
• Hook and eye tape
• Fabric tape measure
• Piece of ribbon or bias tape longer than your brace
• Fabric marker

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Instructions

• 1

  Decide what type of wrist support you want. One type, the full wrap, wraps around your wrist twice, wraps around your hand between your thumb and fingers, then wraps around your wrist once more before being fastened in place. The other type, the simple wrap, wraps around your wrist once. Use the fabric tape measure to determine how long your finished brace needs to be, based on which type you wish to make.

• 2

  Add 1 inch to the length you've measured. Cut the fabric on the bias to the length required for your fit and about 3 inches wide. The bias is a 45-degree diagonal cut to the natural weave of the fabric. Marcy Tilton of "Threads" magazine explains that fabric cut on the bias provides greater stretch, which will enable you to achieve a strong, tight fit.

• 3

  Fold the fabric in half along its length, with the right sides of the fabric together, and place the ribbon or bias tape along the inside fold with the ends sticking out at both sides. Use the sewing machine to sew one short end (making sure the ribbon has been included in the seam) and all along the long end.

• 4

  Use the ribbon at the open end of the tube and your fingers to help turn the tube right side out. Once the entire length has been turned, cut the ribbon off from the end.

• 5

  Tuck the ends of the open side in. If you are making a simple wrap, you can also choose to tuck one edge of the hook tape into the end before sewing it shut.

• 6

  Attach the hook and loop tape in the appropriate places. Put the wrap around your wrist as you would normally wear it and mark the places where the wrap needs to be secured. If you have already attached the hook part of the tape, make sure this is the end on the outside. Sew the tape in place.