Playing sports or moving with a broken wrist can be very difficult. A broken wrist has more influence on sports than is often thought, because many movements are not good for the bone. The fracture can vary from a small hairline crack in the bone to a serious fracture. In all cases, the bone must be relieved somewhat. Always ask the doctor for advice, because he or she will be able to help you with everything you need. Many sports can still be practiced, but unfortunately there are also many sports that can no longer be practiced. The body can still be trained well, with the exception of the arm with the fracture.
Type of wrist fracture, which bone is broken?
The wrist has one bone that comes from the arm and two different bones that come from the hand. The radius – radius bone – is part of the wrist joint. The radius is located in the forearm and next to the radius is the ulna – the ulna. From the hand, two bones articulate directly with the wrist. The scaphoideum – the ship-shaped bone – and the lunate – the moon-shaped bone – articulate with the radius. Articulate means that it forms a joint with another bone. In this case, the radius forms a joint with the scaphoideum and the lunate.
More broadly, more bones can be included in the wrist joint, but in medical terms it is only these three bones. Unofficially, the triquetrum, pisiformis, trapezoid, trapezoid, capitate and hamatum also belong to the wrist. This means that in Dutch vernacular this is all part of the wrist joint. In principle, these are different joints and joint lines, but they articulate directly with the wrist joint.
The ulna is often also considered part of the wrist joint, but this is in fact incorrect, because it does not articulate with the previously mentioned bones. The ulna is located directly next to the radius and plays an important role in rotating the arm. If the ulna is broken, it may be difficult to move the wrist. Rotating the forearm and moving the wrist can be extremely painful. However, the chance that only the ulna will break is small, unless it is a hairline crack.
A large number of different types of fractures are possible in the wrist. Combinations of various fractures also occur, but in most cases there is a fracture in only one of the two bones. A hairline crack in the bone may occur, which generally means that the wrist must be in a plaster cast for between two and four weeks. The hairline crack weakens the bone somewhat, but the bone usually recovers completely and is not weakened. In a single, simple fracture, the bone does weaken, but the fracture is usually not very serious. The fracture disappears after four to six weeks in a plaster cast and often no chronic complaints remain.
This is different with multiple fractures, because a lot of physiology is often involved. It is important how the body repairs the fracture, how quickly this happens, what the position of the bone is at that moment and whether the fracture is not too complex for automatic physiological recovery. Multiple fractures can be a number of bone fractures, but a crush is also referred to as a multiple fracture. For multiple fractures, surgery is performed first and then a pin is often inserted into the arm, as close as possible to the wrist joint. This pin ensures that the bone grows back into its own place and that the tissue structures of the bone recover as best as possible. This is all to ensure that the strength of the bone is as high as possible.
Pain threshold reached
As soon as the pain threshold is reached – the moment at which the pain becomes bothersome or causes problems – further strain on the wrist must be stopped immediately. This may mean that some strain must be stopped relatively quickly, but it may also take a relatively long time, depending on person to person and from complaint to complaint. One fracture is not the same as the other, because a crush is not comparable to a hairline crack in the bone.
The pain threshold is a very important thing to take into account, because it actually determines the recovery from a fracture. If there is almost no limit, it can be taxed more. Due to a higher load and load capacity, the muscles and bones regain their original function more quickly. Form follows function, which means that the bones will be back to normal faster once the function is restored and fully used.
The healing fracture
A healing fracture is very vulnerable and therefore very careful exercise must be exercised so that the fracture does not worsen or does not heal properly. A healing fracture can trigger an inflammatory response. There are five symptoms associated with an inflammatory response, in short:
- Pain
- Itch
- Moisture
- Color difference of the skin
- Heat difference
Sports that are absolutely possible
There are many different sports that are possible. From walking, to running and cycling. Furthermore, some other sports are also possible, such as football, motor sports and mind sports. Nevertheless, some of these sports are not recommended depending on the recovery stage of the broken wrist. If there is hardly any recovery, it is often not recommended to do any sport, except walking and sometimes running. Football is a contact sport, which automatically increases the risk of things going wrong.
It is important to take your own pain threshold into account during these sports. This differs per person, so other sports are sometimes possible. Above all, however, it is important to listen to the treating doctor. The doctor knows what is possible and what is not, because every fracture is different. Yet they do adhere to a guideline and look very closely at the recovery. Ask about the recovery period and when the doctor considers it possible for you to exercise again. Moving the wrist itself is often not possible at all, because it is in a plaster cast.
If this is possible, because the fracture is a hairline crack, for example, it is wise to ask the doctor how much you can put stress on the wrist. This varies greatly from fracture to fracture and it is therefore important to inquire. For an average recovery, the wrist can be slightly loaded again after two weeks, without the wrist joint moving. After four weeks this often progresses a little further and after six weeks, as soon as the wrist comes out of the cast, mobility mainly needs to be trained. The strength may already have been trained to some extent, because the wrist can be subjected to some strain.
All in all, this means that sports such as running and walking are possible. Some motor sports are also possible to a limited extent and mind sports are actually always possible. Contact sports – including football – are often not allowed, but sometimes something is possible in consultation. For example, training can take place in the case of football, as long as physical contact is avoided. Cycling is possible, provided it is not too slippery and you do not have to lean too much on the handlebars. Mountain biking and cycling are almost impossible, but cycling through nature or cycling to the city is possible.
Sports that should absolutely be avoided
Avoid contact sports at all times. Contact sports can be sports such as rugby and American football, but basketball and football are also contact sports. These sports carry enormous additional risk and increase the chance of any other injury. Contact sports also often involve holding the ball in the hand, which is not actually possible with a broken wrist. Holding it is possible, but not in order to use the wrist properly at the same time.
Many ball sports should also be avoided. Ball sports include football and basketball, but volleyball, cricket, baseball, softball and bossaball should also not be played. Ball sports are actually always played with the help of the arms and a wrist fracture ensures that the sports cannot be practiced correctly.
Other sports that should not be practiced are sports that require any use of the wrist joint. These sports can vary greatly, but include gymnastics, athletics and cycling. Avoid this at all times, because the load on the wrist joint will always exceed its load capacity. This will ultimately cause the wrist joint to become more unstable than with a full recovery.
Never go too far
Know your own limits, because this ensures that you will never overload the wrist joint. Take the load and load capacity of the wrist joint into account, because the load should never exceed the load capacity. Let others also pay attention to this, family members, friends and colleagues. Let them warn you if it is really necessary, so that recovery can be as optimal as possible. Sometimes taking your time and being careful can help you for a lifetime. Once the fracture has been repaired, the physiotherapist can help you further. This will help you increase mobility, stability and strength.
