Our wrists are designed to support our general hand movement and ability to carry out everyday tasks and activities.
Made up of muscles, bones, and tissue, the joints of the wrists are vital, especially in sports such as weightlifting.
Overuse can result in pain and discomfort; however, is it a sprain or is it a strain that you are dealing with?
It is essential that you understand which to ensure you receive the best course of treatment.
At Ladan Hajipur, private sports injury surgeon Manchester, we carry out detailed diagnostics to get to the root cause of your wrist pain, tailoring treatment plans to prevent further long-term wrist damage.
In this post, we look at the difference between a wrist sprain vs strain and how you can prevent both.
Wrist sprain vs strain
There are 20 ligaments in your wrist, all working together to support your 8 wrist bones.
The most common sprained ligament is the scapholunate ligament that connects your scaphoid and lunate bones.
It can be difficult to distinguish between a wrist strain and a gym wrist sprain, and often you will require a thorough diagnosis to determine the correct course of treatment.
In essence:
Wrist sprains – a sprained wrist results in a partial tear in the ligament. Often caused by too much twisting. Sprains are a common lifting wrist injury.
Wrist strains – a strain in the wrist is an injury to muscles and tendons in the wrist. Caused by overuse, force, or over-pulling, hence we hear the term “pulled muscle.”
Fractures – a fracture in the wrist will often sound like a cracking sound when it happens, and movement of the wrist will sound and feel like grinding/crunching.
It’s important to assess the severity of all of your symptoms, and physical examinations alongside X-rays and MRIs may be carried out to provide a more detailed view.
Symptoms of wrist strain vs sprain
Both sprains and strains cause pain and swelling, however key differences between wrist sprains and strains include:
Sprain symptoms
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Limited mobility
- Instability
- Loss of strength
- A popping sound at the time of injury
A sprained wrist from weightlifting is often categorised by levels, for example:
Level 1 – ligament is overstretched but not torn.
Level 2 – some instability is apparent, and there is a tear to the ligament.
Level 3 – the joint is unstable as the ligament has completely torn.
Strain symptoms
- Muscle spasms
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Decreased strength
- Cramping
- Difficulty moving the wrist and hand.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important that you speak to a sports injury wrist specialist as soon as possible.
Causes of sprains and strains
One of the main causes of a wrist sprain is falling down onto outstretched hands. Sprains occur when the wrist is bent or twisted forcefully, and the ligaments in the hand are stretched too far and even tear.
In comparison, the main cause of a wrist strain is pulling a muscle when the hand and wrist experience undue force, for example, you can experience a wrist strain from weightlifting.
In order to prevent strains and sprained wrists from lifting weights:
- Build bone strength by making sure your body is taking in enough calcium
- Wear appropriate footwear to avoid falls
- Use protective gear for certain activities, such as wrist wraps for weightlifting
- Take part in appropriate warm-up exercises and cool-downs
- Introduce better ergonomic solutions into working situations.
We also recommend that if you are experiencing a wrist strain from lifting or have suffered a sprain:
- Using ice to reduce inflammation and swelling
- Rest the wrist and hand as much as possible to allow the area to heal
- Compression of the area (if required)
- Elevate the hand and wrist.
A brace or splint can also help to immobilise the wrist and limit movement, alongside anti-inflammatory medication, which can help to alleviate the pain and reduce swelling.
In cases of a severe sprain, surgery may be required to repair the torn ligament, reconnecting the ligament to the bone. You will then require rehabilitation from this surgery and exercises to strengthen the wrist.
Hand and wrist surgeon Manchester
It’s important to treat both wrist sprains and wrist strains as soon as possible to avoid any lasting damage, chronic pain, and deformation of the joint.
As one of the leading wrist injury specialists in Manchester, we help to support a range of wrist injuries and issues. From sprains to strains, to torn ligaments, fractures, and more.
We tailor all treatment plans to you so you can be confident that your hands are safe in our hands.
If you are experiencing pain in your wrist and hands and require sports injury treatment, book an appointment with our team today.
Read the next article: Can Weightlifting Cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Signs, Risks and Prevention