Wrist Pain Relief
Get back to writing, typing, dressing, preparing meals, and the activities that matter to you.
Why Does My Wrist Hurt?
Wrist pain is common and can interfere with everyday function. Most wrist pain is highly treatable with evidence-based care from the physical therapists at Cutting Edge Physical Therapy.
We use our hands all the time, making the wrists particularly vulnerable to injury—especially overuse-type injuries. Physically demanding work, computer use, repetitive movements, lifting, gripping, and forceful wrist motions can all contribute to symptoms.
Traumatic wrist injuries are also common. Falling onto an outstretched arm is a frequent cause and can result in a wrist fracture. Whether pain started suddenly or gradually, a thorough evaluation can help identify what is contributing to your symptoms and what you can do to resolve them.
Our physical therapists at Cutting Edge Physical Therapy take the time to assess your wrist and the entire upper extremity so your plan is built around your specific needs and goals.
Common Causes of Wrist Pain
There are several reasons your wrist may be bothering you. Two common conditions include:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause tingling and numbness in the fingers or hand, often affecting the thumb, index, middle, or ring fingers. Symptoms may progress to hand weakness or dropping items.
The carpal tunnel protects the median nerve and the tendons used to bend the fingers. Excessive pressure can irritate this area, creating painful stinging sensations that may radiate through the fingers, hand, wrist, or forearm. Repetitive tasks such as typing, writing, gripping, construction or manufacturing work, golf, tennis, pickleball, and rock climbing can contribute.
Arthritis
Many kinds of arthritis can cause mild to severe pain in the joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Arthritis pain is also linked to limited mobility.
It is commonly found in the hands of aging adults and can cause swelling, stiffness, weakness, and inflammation that make it difficult to grasp items or comfortably move the hands, wrists, and fingers. A thorough evaluation is the first step in identifying the nature of the problem and creating a successful treatment program.
How Physical Therapy Helps Wrist Pain
If you are living with wrist pain while recovering from an injury, a physical therapist can help you regain and maintain function. Your therapist will identify treatment methods for your needs and design an individualized plan to reduce pain, restore function, and reduce the likelihood of symptoms returning.
Our goal is to help you return to everyday work, home, and sports activities free of wrist and hand pain. We can help identify actions that may be aggravating your symptoms and discuss modifications that may help.
We take a holistic approach to wrist conditions by addressing the entire upper extremity. Your program may include stretching and strengthening for the neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, along with appropriate manual therapy techniques, mobility work, and strength-building exercises.
Splinting, bracing, and modalities such as heat, ice, laser, iontophoresis, or ultrasound may also be used to help alleviate pain and support the best possible outcome. Communication matters: if an exercise feels uncomfortable or you have questions about your progress, your therapist wants to know. Our goal is to help you feel your best in the shortest time possible.
Explore Related Care
Wrist symptoms can be connected to other areas of the arm and can benefit from a whole-body approach.
Hand Pain
Explore care for hand pain that makes everyday tasks difficult.
Elbow Pain
Care for elbow pain that may affect how your arm and wrist move.
Joint Mobilization
Learn about one hands-on approach that may be included in an individualized plan.
Ready To Find Wrist Pain Relief?
Let the skilled experts at Cutting Edge Physical Therapy assess your wrist, guide your recovery, and help you return to daily activities with less discomfort.