Bruised Wrist

A bruised wrist occurs when the tissue located between the outer layer of the skin and the bones becomes damaged. A bruise can be caused by several factors, such as overuse, falling, or sports. Due to the damage to the tissue, various blood vessels and cells break, resulting in internal bleeding. This leads to swelling, which in turn causes pain. Read more below:

What causes a bruised wrist?

There are several causes that can lead to a wrist injury. When the wrist is overused, this can result in a bruise. Another common cause is direct trauma, falling on your wrist can also lead to bruising. A final cause is sports, especially contact sports.

What are the symptoms of a wrist injury?

A bruised wrist comes with many different symptoms. It is often difficult to tell whether you have a bruised wrist, as the symptoms are very similar to those of a sprain or fracture. Below you will find the most common symptoms of this type of wrist injury:

• Due to internal bleeding, swelling is usually present.
• You will often experience limited wrist mobility and pain during rest.
• You may also experience (significant) pain when moving or stretching the wrist and/or hand.

How do I treat a bruised wrist?

When someone has a bruised wrist, it is important to apply cold immediately, preferably using an ice pack wrapped in a towel. If the wrist is swollen, it is important to give it sufficient rest. A wrist brace is extremely suitable for this purpose. A wrist brace helps prevent sudden or excessive movement of the wrist, allowing it to recover more quickly from the bruise. As the swelling goes down, the pain will also subside. In most cases, the bruise will heal within six weeks, and the wrist can be used freely again.