Updated | 5:05 p.m. : BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — Cindy McCain, the wife of Senator John McCain, learned the meaning of “grip and grin” today when enthusiastic supporters pulled her hands and she sustained a minor sprain in one of her wrists.

She was shaking hands with supporters at a fund-raising luncheon with her husband in West Bloomfield when one supporter gripped one hand tightly and another gripped her other hand, causing a wrench in one of her arms, campaign officials said.

Mrs. McCain, who has a history of carpel tunnel syndrome, has sensitive arms and was taken to a local hospital for X-rays and was then released.

Mrs. McCain appeared at a press availability here this afternoon with her right arm in a black sling.

“She has a minor sprain,” Mr. McCain said. He said the sling means she “will not have to shake so many hands.”



Mrs. McCain smiled and said she was fine. At the end of a 30-minute news conference with her husband, she said “a very enthusiastic supporter got me the wrong way and I’m absolutely great and this is a precautionary thing.”

A “pool” of reporters had been whisked in and out of the fund-raiser only for the duration of Mr. McCain’s brief speech and so did not see or record the incident involving Mrs. McCain.

A spokeswoman for the campaign said: “At some point during the rope line, an enthusiastic supporter shook Mrs. McCain’s hand and exacerbated an existing carpal tunnel condition for which she has had previous surgeries. Out of an abundance of caution, she decided to leave the event and visit the local hospital for X-rays, where she was treated for a minor sprain.”