Wrist Range of Motion Therapy Splints

Wrist splints are used to provide pain relief and allow injuries to the wrist to heal. Available online and through physicians, these splints are worn temporarily and are usually easily taken on and off. Although they can be worn during the day, most patients wear splints at night to help treat injury and discomfort.

Who Should Wear a Wrist Splint?

• Wrist splints are commonly worn by patients suffering from mild to moderate wrist discomfort. Patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome often experience aching, burning, numbness and tingling in the palm, fingers, wrist, or thumb, and they should wear a wrist splint to prevent further damage to the wrist and surrounding nerves. Patients who suffer from gout or pseudogout should also wear a wrist splint to treat mild wrist discomfort.

Limited Range of Motion

• Patients who wear wrist splints often experience a limited capacity of the wrist. Generally, the range of motion is decreased ,and patients may experience difficulty bending the wrist or completing everyday tasks, including typing and grasping small objects. For this reason, many patients choose to wear the splints only at night, when no additional physical activity is necessary.

Follow-Up Care

• In addition to wearing a wrist splint whenever possible, patients suffering from wrist pain should also keep their computer keyboards low enough that their wrists aren't bent upwards while typing. Patients should also use mousepads, split keyboards and typing pads to brace and support the wrist while using the computer. Furthermore, they should use over-the-counter pain medications, including ibuprofen or naproxen, to relieve pain and swelling.