Wrist Fracture
Restore wrist movement, rebuild strength, and regain confidence in everyday hand use with personalised physiotherapy after a wrist fracture.
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What is Wrist Fracture?
A Wrist Fracture occurs when one or more bones around the wrist are broken, most commonly the distal radius. It often happens after a fall onto an outstretched hand, although direct trauma, sports injuries, and road accidents can also cause a fracture. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, stiffness, and difficulty using the hand. Treatment may involve a cast, splint, or surgery depending on the type and severity of the fracture. At Pure Physio, physiotherapy focuses on safely restoring movement, strength, grip, and functional use of the wrist and hand after appropriate medical treatment.
A wrist fracture is a break in one or more bones that form the wrist. The wrist is a complex structure involving the lower ends of the forearm bones and eight small carpal bones.
The most common wrist fracture affects the distal radius, which is the end of the radius bone near the wrist. Depending on how the injury occurs, the fracture may also involve the ulna or one of the carpal bones.
Common types of wrist fractures include:
Distal Radius Fracture: A break near the wrist at the lower end of the radius.
Colles’ Fracture: A type of distal radius fracture in which the broken bone is displaced in a characteristic direction.
Smith Fracture: A type of distal radius fracture involving displacement in the opposite direction to a Colles’ fracture.
Scaphoid Fracture: A fracture of one of the small carpal bones on the thumb side of the wrist.
Intra-Articular Fracture: A fracture that extends into the wrist joint.
Non-Displaced Fracture: The broken bone remains in a relatively normal position.
Displaced Fracture: The bone fragments have moved out of alignment.
Some wrist fractures can be treated with immobilisation, while unstable, displaced, or complex fractures may require surgery. Proper alignment and healing are important for restoring comfortable wrist movement and hand function.
What Are The Symptoms Of Wrist Fracture?
Common Symptoms
Sudden Wrist Pain: Pain often occurs immediately after the injury.
Swelling: The wrist and surrounding area may become swollen.
Bruising: Discolouration may develop around the wrist or hand.
Tenderness: The injured area is usually painful when touched.
Difficulty Moving the Wrist: Bending, straightening, or turning the wrist may be painful or restricted.
Pain with Gripping: Holding or squeezing objects may increase discomfort.
Reduced Hand Strength: The hand may feel weak or difficult to use.
Other Possible Symptoms
Deformity: A displaced fracture may cause the wrist to appear bent or abnormally shaped.
Difficulty Using the Hand: Everyday activities such as writing, opening containers, dressing, or lifting objects may become difficult.
Numbness or Tingling: Nerve irritation or swelling may cause altered sensation in the hand or fingers.
Reduced Sensation: Parts of the hand may feel numb.
Finger Stiffness: Reduced movement or swelling may make finger movement difficult.
Cold or Pale Fingers: Changes in circulation can occur with severe injuries and require urgent medical assessment.
Persistent Thumb-Side Pain: Pain in the anatomical snuffbox after a fall can occur with a scaphoid fracture and should be medically assessed, even if initial symptoms appear mild.
An open wound, visible bone, major deformity, uncontrolled bleeding, or cold, pale, or numb fingers requires urgent emergency medical care.
What Are The Causes Of Wrist Fracture?
Falls: Falling onto an outstretched hand is one of the most common causes.
Direct Impact: A strong blow to the wrist can cause a fracture.
Sports Injuries: Falls, collisions, or high-impact activities can injure the wrist.
Road Traffic Accidents: High-force trauma can cause complex wrist fractures.
Workplace Accidents: Falls, crushing injuries, or direct trauma can damage the wrist.
Bone Weakness: Conditions such as osteoporosis can increase the risk of fractures, especially after relatively minor falls.
Repetitive Stress: Repeated loading can occasionally contribute to stress injuries in certain bones.
Diagnosis Of Wrist Fracture
Medical History: A healthcare professional will ask how the injury occurred and about your symptoms.
Physical Examination: The wrist and hand are assessed for pain, swelling, tenderness, deformity, movement, and function.
Neurovascular Assessment: Sensation, circulation, pulses, and nerve function are checked.
X-Rays: X-rays are commonly used to confirm a fracture and assess bone alignment.
CT Scan: CT imaging may provide more detail for complex fractures or injuries involving the joint.
MRI Scan: MRI may identify certain fractures, including some scaphoid fractures, or assess associated soft-tissue injuries.
Repeat Imaging: Some fractures may not be clearly visible immediately after injury, and repeat imaging may be required if symptoms strongly suggest a fracture.
Proper diagnosis helps determine the most suitable treatment and rehabilitation approach.
Treatment Of Wrist Fracture
Treatment depends on the bone involved, fracture pattern, alignment, stability, and associated injuries.
Immobilisation: A cast, splint, or brace may protect the wrist while the bone heals.
Pain Management: Appropriate medication may be recommended by a healthcare professional.
Fracture Reduction: Displaced bone fragments may need to be carefully realigned.
Non-Surgical Management: Stable fractures may heal with appropriate immobilisation and monitoring.
Surgical Fixation: Unstable, significantly displaced, or complex fractures may require plates, screws, pins, or other fixation devices.
Physiotherapy: Rehabilitation helps restore wrist movement, strength, grip, and hand function once medically appropriate.
Hand Therapy: Specialised rehabilitation may be recommended for significant stiffness or hand-function difficulties.
Gradual Return to Activity: Lifting, pushing, pulling, weight-bearing, and sporting activities are gradually reintroduced according to bone healing and medical guidance.
Following medical advice is important because beginning heavy loading or strengthening too early can interfere with fracture healing.
What Is The Physiotherapy Treatment Of Wrist Fracture
Detailed Assessment: At Pure Physio, we assess pain, swelling, fracture-healing status, wrist movement, forearm rotation, finger movement, strength, grip, and functional limitations.
Individualised Rehabilitation Programme: Your treatment is based on the specific bone involved, fracture severity, treatment method, stage of healing, and personal goals.
Pain and Swelling Management: Appropriate physiotherapy strategies may help support comfort and manage swelling.
Protected Early Movement: Once medically cleared, gentle exercises can help maintain movement while protecting the healing fracture.
Wrist Range of Motion Exercises: Controlled exercises gradually improve wrist bending, straightening, and side-to-side movement.
Forearm Rotation Exercises: Rehabilitation helps restore pronation and supination, allowing you to turn the palm downward and upward.
Finger and Thumb Exercises: Movement activities help reduce stiffness and maintain hand dexterity.
Tendon Gliding Exercises: Carefully selected exercises may help maintain smooth finger and hand movement when appropriate.
Gentle Stretching: Carefully progressed stretching can help improve flexibility once sufficient bone healing has occurred.
Joint Mobility Rehabilitation: Treatment can help address stiffness that develops after immobilisation.
Wrist Strengthening: Progressive exercises help rebuild the muscles supporting the wrist.
Grip Strength Training: Activities help restore the ability to grip, hold, carry, and manipulate objects.
Hand Strengthening: Exercises can improve functional hand control.
Functional Rehabilitation: Therapy focuses on everyday activities such as writing, typing, dressing, cooking, lifting, opening containers, and using tools.
Work-Specific Rehabilitation: Exercises can be adapted according to the physical demands of your job.
Sport-Specific Rehabilitation: Rehabilitation can progress toward the movements and loading required for your sport.
Post-Operative Rehabilitation: If surgery is required, your programme follows the surgeon’s recommendations and appropriate bone-healing timelines.
Home Exercise Programme: A personalised programme supports continued recovery between physiotherapy sessions.
Progress Monitoring: Your treatment is regularly reviewed and progressed according to bone healing, pain, movement, strength, grip, and functional improvement.
Why Choose Pure Physio?
Comprehensive Wrist Assessment: We assess healing status, pain, movement, finger function, forearm rotation, strength, grip, and everyday hand use.
Personalised Rehabilitation Plans: Your programme is tailored to the specific fracture, treatment received, stage of healing, and individual goals.
Safe Exercise Progression: Rehabilitation is progressed carefully according to medical clearance and bone-healing requirements.
Restore Wrist Mobility: We help address stiffness and gradually improve comfortable wrist movement.
Improve Hand and Finger Function: Treatment supports the recovery of dexterity and practical hand use.
Rebuild Strength and Grip: Progressive exercises help restore strength lost during injury and immobilisation.
Functional Recovery Focus: Therapy targets practical activities needed at home, work, and in everyday life.
Post-Immobilisation Rehabilitation: We support recovery after a cast, splint, or brace.
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Structured physiotherapy is provided following fracture fixation when required.
Work and Sport Rehabilitation: Treatment can be adapted to your occupation, hobbies, and sporting goals.
Home Exercise Guidance: You receive a personalised programme to support consistent progress between appointments.
Regular Progress Monitoring: Your rehabilitation is reviewed and adjusted as healing and function improve.
Integrated Care Approach: We work alongside orthopaedic specialists, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals when required.
Focused on Long-Term Wrist Function: Our goal is to reduce pain and stiffness, restore comfortable movement, rebuild strength and grip, and help you safely return to the activities that matter most.
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