Physical Therapy for a Broken Wrist: Treatment and Exercises
Wrist fractures account for one in every 10 bone breaks. A broken wrist affects your daily activities. You can't hold your phone, can’t drive, and trying to raise your hand feels like a big task.
You’re not alone. Most people wonder if they can perform their favorite sport again or engage in other activities.
Your wrist can heal, and you'll be able to engage in your regular activities again.
We'll answer the “when” part later, so stick around.
But how do you achieve that healing? Physical therapy for a broken wrist can help. It is an effective method with no side effects.
Understanding a Broken Wrist
Eight bones connect the forearm to the hand, and when any of these bones are cracked or broken, it leads to a broken wrist.
This can be as a result of a fall, sports, or accident. It can be very painful, and you may notice swelling or find it hard to move your hand.
When your wrist breaks, the bones need time to heal, and during this time, your wrist may be cast to keep it stable. Healing can take many weeks, and it's normal to feel frustrated or anxious as it becomes hard to move your hand or even use it for simple tasks such as lifting your teacup.
There are levels of wrist fractures. To determine what kind of treatment you get, your experienced PT will assess you and ask you questions like, “What's the severity of your wrist fracture?”
Types of Wrist Fractures
There are several wrist fractures, but we'll discuss a few of the most common ones.
1. Colles’ Fracture
This type of broken wrist happens when you fall and the larger bone in your forearm, called the radius, breaks. It causes your wrist to bend backwards.
2. Smith's fracture
This is the opposite of a Colles' fracture. The radius bone breaks, but instead of bending backwards, your wrist bends forward.
3. Scaphoid fracture
This type of break is different from the first two. It happens when one of the small bones in your wrist, called the scaphoid, cracks or breaks due to a sudden twist or fall.
4. Comminuted fracture
This occurs when one of the bones in your wrists is dislocated and breaks into multiple pieces. Maybe even crushing some bone tissue.
5. Galeazzi fracture
A Galeazzi fracture includes a breaking of the radius bone, a dislocation or crack of the ulna bone (the smaller bone in your forearm), and the tearing of tendons and ligaments.
This is a very complicated kind of fracture that requires immediate medical attention and probably surgery.
Initial Treatment for a Broken Wrist
Before starting physical therapy for a broken wrist, other treatments come first. These include:
Pain relief
You may be given over-the-counter (OTC) medications to reduce the intense pain followed by a cracked or broken wrist.
Reduction
Your doctor can try to realign the broken bones into their normal position; the process is called “reduction.” The reduction can be open or closed.
An open reduction involves a surgical procedure to shift your bones back into place. A closed reduction is when the doctor realigns the bones without surgery.
You may be given local anesthetics to relieve the pain during the procedure.
Immobilization
This is when your hand is put in a cast or splint to keep it in place to reduce the chances of further injuries and allow it to heal properly.
Ice
Ice is helpful in reducing swelling, relaxing muscles, and decreasing the chances of your hand becoming inflamed. So, it's advisable to keep your hand to your chest level and apply ice.
X-ray
An X-ray is used to know how serious the wrist fracture is, the type of treatment to be considered, and to monitor the healing process.
But how do you know when it's time for physical therapy? Let’s discuss that below.
When to Start Physical Therapy For a Broken Wrist
It takes about 4-6 weeks to heal a broken wrist, to stop feeling pain around the area, and to move it slightly around without discomfort.
When you see you've healed to that extent, that's your sign to look for a physical therapist.
If you start therapy earlier than you should, you could risk a rebound, and if you wait too long, your hand may become stiff and hard to flex.
You may even feel occasional pain months later when you put pressure on the hand or use it to lift heavy weights.
That said, once your doctor permits you to start trying simple hand movements, that's your cue to start physical therapy exercises for your broken wrist.
Benefits of Physical Therapy for a Broken Wrist
Physical therapy is necessary for complete healing after breaking your wrists if you want to prevent any future problems.
Here are 5 benefits of physical therapy exercise for a broken wrist:
To prevent a recurrence
After healing, your motion movements may not be as coordinated as they were before the accident. Your grip may also not be as strong, which can cause strain if you try to use the hand without going for therapy first.
To prevent your wrist from becoming stiff
If your hand is put in a cast, it will become stiff. A physical therapist will help make it flexible again by guiding your hands to perform range-of-motion movements.
To eliminate future pains and discomfort
When you engage in physical therapy for a broken wrist, it prevents the experience of sudden pain months later when you apply a certain amount of pressure to the hand.
For smooth blood circulation
Physical therapy aids the circulation of blood and oxygen to the affected area(s), speeding up the healing process.
To strengthen the bones in your wrist
Physical therapy helps with strength building so you can perform your daily activities without any discomfort.
Physical therapy helps to heal your wrist. To achieve that, your physical therapist uses different approaches, which you'll learn about in a minute.
Common Physical Therapy Techniques for Wrist Fractures
There are many physical therapy techniques for fixing a broken wrist. Here are the most common ones.
Ultrasound therapy
As the name implies, ultrasound therapy is the use of high-frequency sound waves to penetrate bone tissue.
The result is tissue fusion and repair, reduction of pain and inflammation, and stimulation of blood flow to the affected area.
Range of motion exercises
These are coordinated movements aimed at restoring wrist flexibility and mobile functions. They can be passive or active.
Passive range of motion exercises are performed hands-on by your PT, while active range of motion exercises are performed by the broken wrist patient.
Strengthening exercises
These coordinated movements are designed to build your wrist muscles' strength.
With strengthening exercises, you have to start small and progress gradually to avoid overstretching your hand.
Functional activities training
This physical therapy technique involves your physical therapist helping you perform daily tasks and chores like cooking, typing, dressing up, and doing laundry.
Electric stimulation
This approach is especially helpful for people who are finding it very difficult to use their hands due to stiffness after it has been removed from a cast.
Electric stimulation is used to contact the hand muscles and strengthen them for movement.
Effective Exercises for a Broken Wrist
Wrist flexion and extension: Gently stretch your forearm muscles up and down. Repeat 3-6 times and hold at each point for about 15 seconds.
Grip strengthening: Grab a ball or folded clothes, squeeze it lightly, and then release it. Repeat the motions 5-8 times.
Finger walking: Place your hands on a table or any other flat surface and move each finger in front of the other to mimic walking movements.
Wrist rotation: With your elbow by your side and your palms facing up, rotate your wrist clockwise and repeat in an anticlockwise motion.
Towel wringing: This exercise involves taking a towel and wringing it. It tests the flexibility of your wrist muscles and strengthens your forearm muscles.
While performing these exercises, what else can you do to make sure your wrist fracture heals completely? Let’s discuss tips to help you make a successful recovery.
Tips for a Successful Recovery
Rest. Adequate rest is necessary for recovery after a wrist fracture. Don't try to force yourself to work with your broken wrist.
Follow your exercise regimen judiciously. Take your medications regularly and keep your doctor's or therapist’s appointments.
Report any little change to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Eat more muscle-building and repair foods to provide your body with the nutrients it needs to heal.
Ask for and accept support from your loved ones. Don't try to do everything on your own with one hand.
Be patient with your healing; it will take some time, but you will heal, and then you can return to your daily routine.
How to Prevent Future Wrist Injuries
To prevent another broken wrist, always wear protective gear when working, even though it may be discomfiting.
Resist the urge to remove your protective gear. It's better to beat temporary discomfort than suffer the pain that comes with a wrist fracture.
Stick to your fitness routine and eat healthy and nutritious meals. The benefits of this cannot be overemphasized.
A diet-rich food keeps your muscles strong, and a fitness routine is your body's best defense against injuries and illness.
Listen to your body. If your hands feel numb or stiff, report to your therapist and reduce the amount of pressure you apply on them.
Engage in strength training activities like yoga to build your balance and coordination.
If you play sports or lift weights, use the proper techniques to avoid putting your wrist in an awkward position that will hurt you.
Don't always be in a hurry to do or carry things; you can misstep and hurt yourself badly.
Final Thoughts
A broken wrist can be very painful, and the recovery process can drag on for weeks or months, disrupting your daily life activities.
To avoid getting your wrist broken, follow the preventive measures we've outlined here.
And if you've got a broken wrist already, be consistent with your exercises and follow your therapist's advice and instructions.
Healing may take time, but it happens eventually.
During the process, try to move other parts of your body as much as you can and perform the daily life activities your circumstances permit.
Physical therapy usually lasts 4-12 weeks, but general lifestyle changes are very important for a full recovery. For comprehensive care and an effective support system to fast-track your healing with physical therapy exercises for a broken wrist, contact Miracle Rehab Clinic
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start physical therapy after breaking my wrist?
Once your doctor has recommended you start moving your wrist because your fracture has healed to an extent. This can take between 4-6 weeks, sometimes longer for some people. It all depends on your body's healing capability and the severity of the fracture.
How Long Does Physical Therapy Take for a Broken Wrist?
Ideally, physical therapy can last up to three months. Sometimes, the timeframe is shorter, and other times, it can take longer. Again, it depends on how you respond to treatment and the intensity of your fracture.
What exercises are recommended for a broken wrist?
You should do the following exercises gently to heal your broken wrist:
Wrist flexion and extension
Finger walking
Towel wringing
Grip strengthening
Wrist rotation
These are just some of the few exercises recommended for a broken wrist.
