The wrist is one of the most injury-prone body parts. It’s especially susceptible to injury when working, exercising, or playing sports. Wearing a wrist brace is one of the ways to avoid wrist injury, alleviate your pain when injured, and hasten your recovery after an injury.
But with different types of wrist braces available, how do you know which one is right for you? In this guide, we’ll explore various types of wrist braces to help you make an informed decision.
What are the Different Types of Wrist Braces?
Wrist braces support the wrist joints and limit wrist mobility to hasten the recovery process. However, while offering support is their core function, each type of wrist brace works differently. Bearing that in mind, here are the three most common kinds of wrist braces:
Wrist Wraps
Wraps are the most common type of wrist brace. They are designed to limit wrist movement and prevent the wrist from moving back and forth after an injury. When worn, a wrap can allow you to do light tasks, such as typing and writing. However, you won’t be able to do more challenging tasks, such as playing sports.
Besides treating wrist injuries, wraps are also suitable for various conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist tendonitis. They also make excellent overnight wrist braces because they prevent the wrist from drooping during sleep. Wrist wraps shouldn’t be worn for more than two hours at a time, and there should be an hour interval between wearing the wrap for another two hours.
Wrist Sleeves
Unlike wraps, sleeves typically come with a thumb hole for thumb support, and extend from the top of the palm to about a quarter of the way to the elbow. Like wraps, sleeves are also used to manage conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. They are more adaptable than wrist wraps and can be as basic as a simple fabric covering your wrist or more complex with removable stays.
Wrist Compression Braces
As the name suggests, compression braces are designed to compress the injured area while also supporting it, making them great at decreasing inflammation. They are also particularly good at stimulating blood flow to the injured area to speed up the healing process. If you play sports, do yoga, or perform tasks that require repetitive wrist motions, compression braces may be suitable for you.
What Injuries Require a Wrist Brace?
Wrist braces are used to treat various soft-tissue injuries and complex wrist conditions. Some conditions that require a wrist brace include:
- Wrist sprains
- Wrist strains
- Wrist tendonitis
- Fractures
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Arthritis
Wrist braces can treat these conditions by stabilizing the wrist and immobilizing the injured area to speed up the recovery process. Wrist braces can also play a preventive role especially in sport injuries and when working out.
Made of quality nylon and spandex, these wrist sleeves are breathable and practical.
Should You Wear a Wrist Brace All Day?
While you can safely wear some wrist braces all day, consult your doctor or physical therapist. If your doctor or physical therapist recommends you wear your wrist brace all day, make sure it also comfortably fits as you sleep to avoid aggravating your injury.
There are also risks associated with poor wear or overwear of wrist braces, especially during non-essential times such as at night. This is particularly the case for compression braces. The risks include muscle atrophy, nerve impairment, pressure sores, and contact dermatitis (irritation of the skin).
You should consult a doctor on how long you should wear the wrist brace in the event of an injury. If it’s purely for sports, then you shouldn’t wear it during the night.
What is the Best Type of Wrist Support?
Ultimately, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all wrist support. The perfect wrist support for you will depend on various factors, such as the severity of your condition or injury, lifestyle, preferences, and more.
If you want to get a wrist brace for your injury or condition, consult your doctor or physical therapist to ensure you pick an appropriate wrist brace for your needs.
