Wrist bandage
The wrist is both one of the most important and one of the most complex joints in the human body.
We use our wrist almost permanently, whether consciously or unconsciously, and so that the various different movement possibilities necessary for this can be given in this joint, its structure is particularly complicated.
Structure of the wrist
Most of our joints are made up of two bones, with the end of one bone forming the socket and the end of the other bone forming the joint head. These two parts are connected to one another in a joint capsule and ensure the mobility of the joint through certain forms of displacement relative to one another.
In contrast, a lot of bones are involved in the wrist and, in the narrower sense, it is not actually a single joint, but actually consists of several joints.
The two bones of the forearm, ulna and radius, interact on the one hand with each other and on the other hand with the proximal row of carpal bones, which is formed by four bones. This is also known as the proximal wrist. The distal wrist is between the two rows of carpal bones.
In addition, there are theoretically even other joints in the wrist, between individual other bones, but their range of motion is so restricted that they can practically be neglected. In addition, the various joints are strengthened by tendons and ligaments.
Together, however, these entire partial joints form a functional unit that allows us to carry out finely coordinated movements in the wrist, but also make it quite susceptible to injuries, diseases or other functional impairments.
Types of wrist braces
There are of course a large number of different types of wrist bandages for these different indications.
Most are available both on the Internet and in common medical supply stores or sports departments in larger stores and can usually be created by the patient himself.
However, if you are unsure about the use of the wrist bandage, a doctor or physiotherapist should be consulted as a precaution.
They can be varied in the tightness with the help of a Velcro fastener and can thus be adapted to individual needs.
To ensure an ideal support function, many of the wrist bandages are reinforced with additional rails.
Especially those wrist braces that are used in sports are stretchy and breathable. By dissipating moisture, they bring about an optimal temperature balance, which should prevent increased sweating under the wrist bandage.
Some bandages also activate the wrist through targeted compression of nerves and vessels. Depending on the type of wrist bandage, it can only be worn on one or both arms.
Some models have a thumb loop to include this in the stabilization.
In addition to the Velcro fastener, some wrist wraps also have a zipper for fastening.
In addition, different materials are used for the wrist wraps, depending on the area of application and brand. Which of the many types is best suited to a particular case differs from person to person and depends on both the reason for wearing the bandage and personal preferences. However, salespeople and / or doctors are usually in a good position to help the patient make a choice.
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Wrist bandages with thumb inclusions
In contrast to simple wrist bandages, which only enclose the wrist like a cuff and in some cases have a thumb loop for better hold and effect, a wrist bandage with a thumb lock offers much more extensive support for the thumb.
This wrist bandage also covers the metacarpal bones and the thumb saddle joint and is therefore characterized by a high level of stability in these joints, so that they are given the opportunity to spare themselves with limited mobility and to recover from possible irritations such as tendonitis or osteoarthritis .
By including the thumb, loads that act on individual joints alone are distributed across the entire structures enclosed by the bandage and thus effectively relieved. This also reduces the associated pain, which can also have a positive effect on the well-being of those affected. A wrist bandage with a thumb lock can be used purely therapeutically as well as preventive or after an operation as a kind of rehabilitation measure in order to be able to maintain the usual movements while taking care of yourself.
A bandage of this type is therefore used in many ways.
You can find a lot more information under our topic: Thumb brace
Leather wrist wraps
Wrist wraps are available in various materials, including leather.
A bandage made from the natural material is usually very rigid at the beginning and can be perceived as uncomfortable. But the advantage of a bandage made of leather is that the material adapts to the wrist individually through regular wear and thus also through body heat, which means it fits very well and is extremely comfortable to wear.
This is very important for the wearer of the bandage, since it has to be worn for a long time and should then be felt as comfortably as possible and only to a very small extent as bothersome. In addition, a wrist bandage made of leather is easy to wear and skin-friendly, even if the skin is more likely to sweat under it. At the same time, it offers the wrist stability and support, so that unwanted movements can be suppressed and the relevant structures on the joint are relieved.
It can be worn both in everyday life and during sports, as the leather is very robust. Leather wrist bandages are also available in various designs, for example with or without a thumb loop, and can therefore be used for various wrist complaints.
Area of application of the wrist bandage
To protect the wrist from injuries and overstrain, it can be useful to wear a wrist bandage for certain activities.
With some routine movements in everyday life or at work there is an increased risk of damaging the wrist; here too, the use of a wrist bandage is advisable.
These include, for example, long periods of work on computers, vibration stress on the wrist or, in general, almost all repetitive movements over a long period of time.
Wrist supports play a special role in prevention, but especially in the field of sports. Various sports can put a lot of strain on the wrist, including handball, volleyball and many more.
A wrist bandage shields the wrist a little from external violence and stabilizes it so that it is less likely that there will be unphysiological movements and, in the worst case, even overstretching or fractures.
Another area of application for wrist bandages is rheumatic diseases.
This includes on the one hand osteoarthritis, which occurs in principle on every joint in the body, but is particularly common in the hand area on the saddle joint of the thumb. It is due to chronic joint wear (degeneration) and leads to pain and loss of mobility.
On the other hand, this also includes rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disease of the joints, which is also sometimes accompanied by severe pain.
In both cases, the wrist bandage is used to immobilize the joint and to bring it into a relieving position that is supposed to relieve pain. Therefore, it is also used for pain in the navicular bone.
Other common diseases affecting the wrist are:
- the carpal tunnel syndrome, which results from the fact that the median nerve is damaged for some reason, usually by some form of excessive pressure, and therefore symptoms of mobility loss (Motor skills) and / or sensation (sensitivity) can have,
- tendinitis, which can be caused by overuse of the tendons and
- Guyon-Lodge syndrome, in which the ulnar nerve is damaged.
A bandage can be useful for all of these diseases, as pain develops or at least intensifies mainly when moving. In addition, overexerted nerves or tendons are no longer moved as much, which speeds up the healing process.
The third major area that wrist wraps come in is after injuries or fractures.
When the solid cast is removed, it is advisable to wear a wrist bandage at least temporarily. This protects the joint, which has to get used to normal movements again, and the bones are supported in their regular growing together.
Read more about the topic here: Bruise wrist
For which diseases is a wrist bandage used?
A wrist bandage has the task of immobilizing the wrist with its bony and muscular parts and the tendons and ligaments so that at least one injured or inflamed element can recover and is not further stressed by movement.
In order to find out for which disease it is used, one can simply consider which structures on the wrist can be relieved. After a wrist sprain, i.e. when the entire joint is affected by the injury, the wrist bandage can help the structures involved to recover from the injury and heal again through restricted movement.
In the event of instability in the wrist, a wrist bandage protects against too great a range of motion and thus supports a no longer functional bone ligament apparatus. Another disease in which a wrist bandage can be used is wrist osteoarthritis, a wear-related reduction in articular cartilage and changes in the portion of bone near the articular cartilage.
In this case, the movements in the wrist become increasingly painful as the cartilage wear continues. The wrist bandage thus restricts the harmful movement and at least to some extent prevents the wrist from advancing osteoarthritis. The inflammation of the tendon sheaths on the wrist is also a disease that is painful, especially when moving, which only comes to rest and can heal by taking it easy. A wrist bandage is perfect as part of the treatment, as it can be adapted to the wrist even in the event of swelling that occurs in this context and can also be removed in between.
Furthermore, a wrist bandage can be used for any irritation of the hand, be it after an injury or an operation or even for rheumatism and have a positive effect on healing.
The good thing about such a bandage is that it is very easy to use, can be put on and taken off quickly and yet effectively restricts movement in the wrist. This is why it is often included as part of the treatment, especially when the wrist is regularly stressed by certain work in everyday life or through sport and its function is to be maintained.
Wrist bandage for a carpal tunnel syndrome
If the symptoms are mild to moderate, a wrist bandage can be worn in the case of carpal tunnel syndrome. There are special bandages for this that immobilize the wrist. They can be worn both during the day and at night when the pain is particularly severe. Many sufferers help wrist supports to alleviate their symptoms.
Further information on the subject can be found at: Splint used to treat carpal tunnel syndrome
Wrist bandage for tendinitis
Tendonitis causes pulling and stabbing pain that is movement-dependent. A wrist bandage stabilizes the wrist and is well suited for tendinitis in order to keep the affected area still and to protect it. This allows the tissue to heal and pain in the wrist caused by certain movements can be reduced.
The wrist bandage for sports
Since the wrist is particularly stressed in certain sports, this is an advantage injury, instability or other irritation support with a wrist bandage and protect against possible injury.
Sports such as Handball, volleyball, tennis and the like are characterized by jerky forces acting on the wrist and are in the foreground in wrist irritations. A wrist bandage is designed to ensure that the sport continues to be successful by supporting the wrist.
At the same time, movements that are outside the freedom of movement of the wrist are avoided. The bandage can be used both preventively to prevent an injury and after treatment to protect against a new one. The shape and material of the wrist bandage, which should be worn during sport, usually differ from the bandages used in everyday life. The material is usually lighter and more flexible, the shape is selected according to individual needs.
It is important that the bandage does not cut or rub into the skin when it is worn, but that it sits comfortably.
Wrist bandage in fitness
Wrist wraps are a form of fitness gloves that can be used for exercise. A bandage serves as wrist protection during sports and is intended to stabilize the wrist during training exercises. The wrist should be kept from kinking. In fitness, wrist wraps are also called “Grip Wrist Wrap”, as the bandages more or less tightly enclose the wrist. Depending on how tightly you wrap a wrist bandage, you can allow more or less movement in the wrist. Wrist wraps are suitable for use in the gym and are useful for exercises such as bench press and bicep curls to prevent the wrists from clicking away. In addition to classic wrist supports, there are models with pulling aids.
A pulling aid can be helpful for pulling exercises. Pull exercises include rowing or deadlifting. If you can no longer perform the exercises after one or two heavy sets during training because the forearm muscles are still too weak, the pulling aid can help to support the forearms during such exercises. If you want to buy a wrist bandage for fitness exercises, you should first think about which exercises you need the bandages for. For beginners, simple bandages are usually sufficient. Pulling aids are suitable for those who are advanced and have a clear training plan. When buying, you should also make sure that the bandages fit well and actually give your wrist support.
Wrist bandage for bodybuilding
Wrist wraps can be used for bodybuilding as well as fitness. Whether a wrist bandage or another form of fitness gloves is more suitable depends on the personal training goal and comfort. As a rule, bandages should be more needs-oriented and should not be put on for all exercises. The purpose of using wrist wraps in bodybuilding is to master exercises that can be performed without being less effective or causing pain.
You might also be interested in this topic: Fitness gloves
Tennis with a wrist bandage
Tennis is one of the sports that put a lot of strain on the wrist due to the repetitive stretching and bending movements. A wrist bandage can be worn to relieve the wrist at this point and protect it from unwanted, harmful movements.
There are very simple bandages for this which only encircle and stabilize the wrist like a cuff. Or bandages in which the thumb is included and which additionally restrict the flexion and extension of the wrist. However, it is best to try for yourself which wrist bandage is the right one for tennis by trying different bandages when playing tennis and choosing one that is comfortable to wear and effectively supports and protects the wrist.
In this way, injuries caused by tennis can be prevented, or after a treated wrist injury or irritation, you can slowly approach the typical movements and keep yourself fit.
Sometimes there is simply an instability in the wrist, which can be counteracted thanks to the wrist bandage, at least for the period of wearing.
costs
Depending on what the wrist bandage is to be used for and whether it is really necessary or not, it can be prescribed by a doctor. The prices for wrist wraps vary very strongly depending on the brand and quality and are generally between 9 and 90 euros.
If a prescription is available, depending on the health insurance company, either all of the money or at least part of it is taken over by the health insurance company.
