Cellphones and keyboard work are at all time highs and climbing. There is also and increase on surgery to the wrist due to carpal tunnel syndrome and similar injuries. Surgeons are getting paid less per surgery too, leading to more surgeries than ever to help increase their income. Because the wrist joint is very complex and a potential source of numerous injuries we are going to spend a little time today and touch on this topic.

The wrist actually is composed of two joints. One is responsible for the hand going up and downing a waving motion. The other is responsible for rotating the palm toward the ceiling or toward the floor.

Not only does the wrist need a lot of flexibility, it needs a lot of stability to execute power moves.

The triangular fibrocartilage complex is a confluence of five structures meeting in the joint. This pads the joint and helps provide stability. Because of the complex nature of this TFCC structure, hockey, baseball and tennis players are easily injured.

TFCC problems cause pain toward the outside of the wrist. Patients might notice a click as the wrist moves up and down. Usually, one episode elicited the pain, which recurs.

Patients with this problem usually need a MRI. Often, dye is injected into the joint to further delineate the tear of the TFCC. Tears in the TFCC often require surgery. TFCC injuries are usually taken care by surgeons who have a specialty interest in hand and wrist.

Chiropractic also can be advantageous to treatment and the overall flexibility of the wrist. Chiropractors who specialize in extremity adjusting can move a joint that may be slightly out of position and help you avoid surgery at all.

Here are some stretches to prevent injury to the wrist. It is important to stretch before and after athletic activity to prevent an injury to the wrist joint.

1. Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers acutely as if they are in a hand-stand position. Hold for a count of 5.

2. Straighten both wrists and relax fingers.

3. Make a tight fist with both hands.

4. Then bend both wrists down while keeping the fist. Hold for a count of 5.

5. Straighten both wrists and relax fingers, for a count of 5.

Key points: The exercise should be repeated 10 times.

To cool down, let your arms hang loosely at the side and shake them for a few seconds.

And don’t hurt yourself putting in you exercise CD BEFORE you do your exercises. Haha.

Mobile chiropractor, Dr. Don Ellis at Discover Chiropractic Centers offers chiropractic care to the Mobile community. Mobile chiropractor, Dr. Don Ellis of Discover Chiropractic. Call Dr. Don Ellis, the chiropractor in Mobile, Alabama who cares about you!