Wrist Pain
Wrist pain can make everyday tasks feel unexpectedly difficult. Opening jars, typing, lifting a mug, or even turning a key can bring on a sharp sting or dull ache that lingers.
It’s not always easy to rest your hands, and when the pain doesn’t ease on its own, it’s time for expert support. Physit’s mobile physiotherapy services bring that support to your door so you can start feeling better one day at a time.
What Is Wrist Pain?
Your wrist is a small but complex joint that is made up of bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves that all work together to help you grip, lift, and move your hand with precision. When any one of these parts becomes irritated or strained, it can lead to pain, stiffness, or weakness, which makes simple actions feel a lot harder than they should.
Wrist pain can develop gradually because of repetitive strain, or it may come on suddenly after an awkward movement or injury. For some people, it’s linked to inflammation, like in tendinitis or arthritis. For others, it may stem from poor alignment or nerve compression that affects their grip strength or the sensation in their hand.
No matter the cause, the goal is the same – to relieve pressure, restore natural movement, and help you use your hands more comfortably all day, every day.
Common Signs and Symptoms for Wrist Pain
Wrist pain can show up in many different ways, depending on what’s going on under the surface. Some of the most common signs include:
- Sharp pain during certain wrist or hand movements
- Dull ache that worsens after activity
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Weak grip or difficulty holding items
- Tingling or numbness in the fingers
- Swelling or tenderness around the joint
- Clicking or catching sensations with movement
Personalised, in-home physiotherapy can help address these symptoms and their causes.
What Can Make Wrist Pain Worse?
Certain habits, conditions, or repetitive actions can aggravate wrist pain or slow down recovery. Knowing what to watch for will help you protect your wrists and encourage healing for the long term.
- Repetitive hand or wrist use: Typing, texting, cooking, and cleaning may overwork small wrist tendons, especially without rest.
- Prolonged gripping or awkward positioning: Holding items for too long or bending the wrist at sharp angles can increase joint stress.
- Weak supporting muscles: When your shoulders or forearms aren’t strong enough, the wrist often compensates, which can lead to overuse.
- Poor ergonomic setup: Unsupportive desks, low keyboards, or poorly positioned tools can place extra pressure on the wrist.
- Underlying conditions: Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, or past sprains may cause inflammation or joint instability that makes your symptoms worse.
- Sudden strain or impact: Falls, twists, or lifting something too heavy can trigger pain or inflammation in the wrist joint.
What Causes Wrist Pain?
There are many possible causes of wrist pain, and it often comes down to how the joint is being used or overused. In many cases, pain develops because the tendons, nerves, or cartilage in the wrist become irritated from repetitive movements or not having the right support.
Tendinitis is one of the most common causes, especially if your pain flares up with activity. It happens when the wrist tendons become inflamed because of overuse or repetitive strain.
Another frequent issue is carpal tunnel syndrome, where pressure on the median nerve leads to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the hand. In other cases, arthritis may be at play, causing stiffness, swelling, and pain in the wrist joint over time.
Sometimes wrist pain follows a specific injury, like a fall or a sudden twist. Other times, it builds up slowly and catches you completely off guard. That’s why we look beyond the symptom and focus on the whole picture of your habits, your environment, and how your wrist is functioning throughout the day.
How Physit Can Help
One of the most important things, when it comes to wrist pain, is to treat the irritation, provide proper support for the joint, and give you back balance in how your hand and arm work together.
At Physit, we make that easier by bringing specialised, expert care right into your home, so you can recover where you’re most comfortable.
We start by taking the time to thoroughly understand your symptoms, movement patterns, and goals. Then we build a personalised plan that supports healing, improves strength, and helps prevent future flare-ups.
Here’s a look at what your treatment may include.
- Hands-on therapy: Gentle techniques to relieve tension, reduce inflammation, and restore proper movement in the wrist and surrounding tissues.
- Stretching and mobility exercises: Specialised movements that help ease stiffness, improve range of motion, and reduce tightness across the forearm and hand.
- Strengthening and grip control: We guide you through exercises that build stability in the wrist, fingers, and forearm, improving function and making daily tasks a lot easier.
- Nerve gliding techniques: If tingling or numbness is present, we may include specific exercises to help free up irritated nerves and improve sensation.
- Activity and ergonomic advice: We help you modify how you use your hand and wrist throughout the day, and give you tips on posture, tool use, and safe rest breaks.
- Functional support: From preparing food to lifting shopping bags, we guide you through the movements that matter most in your routine to ensure you always do them as safely and comfortably as possible.
We believe in providing thoughtful care that helps your wrist heal and offers long-term relief. We support your recovery step by step, right from your living room, kitchen, workplace, or wherever you need us the most.
Conditions We Treat
Our London home and work visit physiotherapists are highly experienced in assessing and treating a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:
0204 570 2391- Post-surgical rehabilitation (knee, hip, shoulder, and spinal surgeries, as well as general surgical recovery)
- Age-related mobility issues, including falls prevention and balance training
- Chronic pain management (back pain, arthritis, and joint stiffness)
- Neurological conditions impacting mobility and coordination
- Post-hospital deconditioning and general rehabilitation to restore strength, balance, and independence
- All musculoskeletal realted injuries or pain
Frequently Asked Questions About Wrist Pain
1. Can physiotherapy really help with wrist pain?
Yes. Physiotherapy is one of the best ways to reduce wrist pain, improve movement, and restore strength. It tackles the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms, and helps you move more comfortably throughout the day.
2. Do I need to stop using my hand completely while it heals?
Usually, no. We help you continue using your hand safely while avoiding movements that aggravate the joint. Complete rest can sometimes lead to more stiffness or weakness.
3. Is wrist pain always from an injury?
Not always. Wrist pain can come from repetitive use, posture, inflammation, or even nerve compression. We help determine the likely cause and create a plan that works with your lifestyle.
4. Do I need a referral to start Physit treatment?
No referral is needed. You can book directly with us for an in-home assessment, and we’ll develop a personalised plan that fits your unique needs, and goals.
Let’s Make Everyday Tasks Feel Comfortable Again
Wrist pain doesn’t have to keep you from doing the things you enjoy! With Physit, you get expert physiotherapy brought right to your home: no travel, no waiting, just practical care that is specifically designed to reduce your discomfort and bring back your natural movement.