A wrist brace is usually a protective garment worn around your wrist to strengthen and protect it from strains and sprains while undertaking strenuous activity, such as weightlifting or basketball. Wrist supports are also common accessories in sports injury rehabilitation methods involving the wrist. In fact, they are used by physiotherapists and chiropractors to treat wrist pain, fractures, and other muscular or skeletal issues. While a wrist brace does not reduce the force on your wrist that results from exercising or participating in sports and other physical activities, it can greatly reduce the potential for injury.
Wrist supports and splints are made from elastic material and are often worn during extended periods of rest, allowing the wrist brace to conform to the natural curves of the wrist, without restricting movement at all. These devices are typically worn at all times, but especially during the time between exercises or sports where increased force could easily cause a break. Wrist supports and splints are very useful in providing an additional support, and traction, to a wrist that may have been weakened by overexertion or poor mechanics of the wrist joint. Force that is used to flex and rotate the wrist can result in micro-tearing of the tendons and ligaments, resulting in pain and swelling. Pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion are the results of micro-tearing and wearing a wrist brace provides a support that decreases strain on the wrist joint and decreases the potential for injury.
While wearing a wrist brace can have many benefits, it should never be worn during active sports and exercise, unless you were specifically told to. Some individuals experience symptoms such as pain and swelling, even with therapeutic wear, and these symptoms are no laughing matter. For these individuals, wearing one while exercising or engaging in sports can lead to further damage to the tendons and ligaments. If you do suffer from symptoms such as pain or swelling, it is best to consult your doctor before continuing your activity. See more here info about the benefits of a wrist brace.
Wearing wrist braces while participating in sports and recreational activities may help decrease the risk of sustaining an injury, but they will not alleviate the pain or damage if you do sustain an injury. While wrist braces do give an athletic player with a little added protection, they do not alleviate any kind of damage that would be sustained if an accidental collision took place. Even the most avid of athletes may wish to avoid any injury that can potentially leave them unable to play their sport. Many wrist braces cannot prevent sprains and strains, and some are simply too uncomfortable for even the most avid of athletes. This is another reason why they are not recommended for everyone.
Wearing a wrist brace can also have a negative impact on your self-esteem. Because of the way they look and feel, people may subconsciously think you are less inclined to move around freely, take part in physical activities, and engage in strenuous activity because of the way your braces look and feel. Wearing one can also make it difficult to perform simple activities like picking up books and taking notes. This can lead to feelings of isolation and frustration, which can lead to depression and other mental health issues.
If you do decide to wear one of these devices, it is important that you carefully consider your reasons for wearing them. While they can greatly aid with the healing process of various physical problems, wearing them can also negatively affect your self-esteem. Before you decide to wear one, talk to your doctor. They will be able to provide you with the proper information and guidance in deciding whether you should wear a wrist brace. They will also be able to recommend the safest and most comfortable device for your specific needs. Find out more info about this topic on this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrist_guard.