What is the treatment for a sprained wrist?
Treatment will depend on the severity of the injury. First degree sprains can follow sports injury treatment using the P.R.I.C.E. principle – Protection, Rest, Icing, Compression, Elevation for the first 48 hours. Depending on the size of the athlete, small ace bandages (2″, 3″, and 4″) can be used to provide initial support for the wrist until the pain diminishes. Click the following link to see the wrist ice pack available in the SportsMD Store. wrist ice pack Athletes with suspected second or third degree sprains should be immediately immobilized with a rigid splint (hand, wrist, and forearm) and then placed in a shoulder sling to immobilize the elbow and referred for medical evaluation. Once a fracture/dislocation has been ruled out and a sprained wrist has been diagnosed, the goals of the initial rehabilitation period are to reduce pain and swelling. This can be accomplished utilizing the P.R.I.C.E. principles of initial treatment. To assist in the healing process, the wrist shoul
