Your wrist makes daily activities such as holding, lifting, and gripping possible. Your wrist connects your hand to the forearm, and the arrangement of bones allows for a broader range of movement. The wrist is made up of two parts of a joint that work as one functional unit. It will enable us to flex (bend) or extend (stretch) our hands. We can also tilt our hands sideways, towards our little finger or thumb. Our ability to perform functions that we only realize once we are incapable of doing are all possible with wrist joints. Imagine being unable to bend, move, or rotate your wrists; how difficult it will be for anyone to perform hand functions. We spend the entire day using our hands for various functions. It is prevalent for people to experience wrist pain as some may arise slowly while others can be sudden. Force or stress is more prominent in carpenters, musicians, postal workers, and athletes as their nature of work includes repetitive stress. The wrist can likely get injured due to a fall or trauma.
It is always recommended to be proactive than reactive, as prevention is always the best approach.
- Ergonomics
It is always recommended to be mindful of your workspace, such as the chair and desk height, and if the computer is at eye level, above or below it. Ideally, anywhere between eye level and thirty degrees below your line of sight is a good position for the computer. Even checking the wrist position is always comfortable and mindful.
- Regular breaks
Always take breaks between your work as it helps your mind and body relax and refresh. Short breaks are helpful in all scenarios for overall health.
- Do wrist exercises
There are many exercises, such as prayer stretches, where you bring together your palms in front of the chest and below the chin. Then lower it to your stomach area and hold it for 15 to 30 seconds. Depending on your preference, you can choose many other exercises.
- Prevent any falls
Always be mindful of your movements and hand functions. The most common reflex during a fall is to save oneself by laying out your hand; one might bend their wrist in a position they shouldn’t. It all happens at the moment to prevent major bodily injuries.
Taking care of your hands, wrists, and overall health is essential as they help you perform daily activities. Remember, stress, pressure, or repetitive action can damage the tissues and give some time for the tissues to recover before you again stress them out. So, if you experience any conditions or have had surgery on your hand, wrist, or elbow, ask your doctor for a referral to Form Hand Therapy. You can print a referral form for your doctor to fill out or contact our office for additional information at (510) 350-3030.
