Hand and Wrist Sports Injuries:
A Comprehensive Study Guide
This page explains common acute (sudden) and overuse (gradual) injuries to the hand and wrist in athletes. It covers causes, symptoms and treatment options. Practical advice is included on prevention, when to seek medical attention and rehabilitation.
Common Acute (Traumatic) Injuries
Jammed Finger• Cause: fingertip struck while extended in ball sports (e.g. basketball)
• Symptoms: pain, swelling, tenderness and difficulty bending the joint
• Treatment: rest, ice, buddy‑tape to the next finger for support
Scaphoid Fracture
• Cause: falling onto an outstretched hand (hyper‑extended wrist), common in football
• Symptoms: tenderness in the “anatomical snuffbox” just below the thumb base, increasing with thumb or wrist movement
• Treatment: splint or cast; displaced or proximal fractures often need surgery
Skier’s Thumb (UCL Tear)
• Cause: thumb bent backwards—often in skiing when falling while holding a pole
• Symptoms: pain and instability at the thumb base, trouble gripping
• Treatment: partial tears → splint/cast for 4–6 weeks; complete tears often require surgery
Mallet Finger
• Cause: impact to fingertip or forced bending causing tendon or bone injury
• Symptoms: drooping fingertip unable to straighten, swelling, tenderness
• Treatment: immediate splinting in full extension (usually six weeks), sometimes surgical fixation
Metacarpal Fractures (“Boxer’s Fracture”)
• Cause: high‑energy impact such as punching or direct blow
• Symptoms: pain across palm or back of hand, swelling, bruising, misalignment when forming a fist
• Treatment: cast or surgical fixation (K‑wires, screws, plates) depending on severity
Finger Dislocations
• Cause: joints forced beyond normal range often in falls or direct impact
• Symptoms: visible joint displacement, pain, swelling
• Treatment: medical relocation, buddy‑taping or splinting; surgery if irreducible or open
Other Injuries:
wrist ligament tears, tendon subluxations (e.g. ECU injury), sagittal band rupture (“Boxer’s knuckle”), Boutonnière deformity. Treatments range from conservative immobilisation to surgery depending on severity.
Common Overuse (Chronic) Injuries
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis• Cause: inflammation of thumb‑side wrist tendons from repetitive motion (e.g. tennis, golf)
• Symptoms: pain over thumb base, worse with grasping or pinching
• Treatment: rest, ice, NSAIDs, therapy and sometimes steroid injection
Gymnast Wrist (Distal Radial Physeal Injury)
• Cause: repetitive weightbearing on the wrists (e.g. handstands), seen in young gymnasts with open growth plates
• Symptoms: dull aching pain on top of wrist, wrist swelling, reduced grip strength
• Treatment: rest, brace or cast, physical therapy; surgery only in severe cases
TFCC Tears (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex)
• Cause: fall on an outstretched wrist or repetitive wrist rotation and gripping
• Symptoms: pain on the little‑finger side of wrist, clicking with wrist movements
• Treatment: conservative (immobilisation, NSAIDs, injection) or arthroscopic repair if symptoms persist
Hook of Hamate Fracture
• Cause: impact by a bat or club; also seen in repeated minor impacts
• Symptoms: pain in hypothenar area, grip weakness, possible tingling in little finger
• Treatment: removal of the fractured hook fragment (excision), return to sport usually within 6 weeks
ECU Injury (Extensor Carpi Ulnaris Tendon)
• Cause: repetitive sports involving wrist rotation (golf, tennis, baseball)
• Symptoms: pain on the ulna side of wrist, snapping or subluxation with movement
• Treatment: initial immobilisation, exercises; surgical repair if instability persists
General tendonitis and overuse stress fractures may also occur in specific sports.
Prevention Strategies
• Use proper protective gear: wrist guards, padded gloves, taping• Warm up and stretch wrists, fingers and forearms before activity
• Improve technique with a coach: catching, falling safely, swinging, gripping
• Build strength and flexibility: wrist curls, grip exercises, shoulder and core conditioning
• Rest adequately: avoid overtraining, especially in youth sport and specialization
• Stay hydrated, particularly in sports like climbing
Seeking Treatment and Rehabilitation
When to Seek Urgent Medical CareRed flags include severe pain or swelling, persistent bleeding > 15 minutes, numbness or cold/discoloured fingers, abnormal joint alignment, clicking or grinding sensations.
Non‑urgent medical assessment is recommended if mild swelling or pain does not improve after two weeks.
Initial First Aid: RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) for sprains or minor injuries.
Medical Options
Conservative treatment: splints, casts, NSAIDs, steroid injection, physical therapy
Surgery: for displaced fractures, complete ligament or tendon tears, or when non‑operative treatment fails. Techniques like WALANT may be used.
Rehabilitation
Rehab is tailored to the athlete’s sport and injury.Key goals: restoring range of motion, strength, and proprioception, and ensuring a safe return to play.
Progressive loading under the supervision of a physiotherapist is vital.
Clinical Pearls / Key Points
• Hand and wrist injuries affect around 25% of athletes’ injuries.• Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment reduce the risk of long-term disability.
• Conservative treatment is effective for many injuries; surgery is reserved for unstable or complete tears.
• Rehabilitation under expert guidance improves outcomes and prevents re‑injury.
• Prevention strategies across technique, equipment, conditioning and recovery are essential.
000Patient FAQs
Q: What should I do immediately after injury?A: Rest the injured area; use ice, compression and elevation. Avoid forceful movement and seek medical advice if pain or swelling is severe or does not settle.
Q: When is surgery necessary?
A: Surgery is needed for displaced fractures, complete ligament or tendon tears, injuries that fail to heal with conservative care, or where early return to sport is required.
Q: How long until I can return to play?
A: Recovery varies: jammed fingers may heal in days to weeks, fractures or ligament repairs may take months. Your medical team will guide the timeline.
Q: How can I prevent repeat injury?
A: Use protective gear, maintain good technique, build strength and flexibility, warm up adequately and respect rest days.
Call‑to‑Action
For exercise videos and joint‑care tips, visit www.TheArmDoc.co.uk.To discuss symptoms or book an appointment, phone 020 3384 5588 or email Info@TheArmDoc.co.uk.
Evidence & Guidelines
This page is supported by NICE CG176 on musculoskeletal conditions and recent evidence from orthopaedic literature. Clinical recommendations align with current standards of practice.Disclaimer
This leaflet is for patient education and does not replace individual medical advice. Individual circumstances vary. For personalised diagnosis, evaluation and treatment please consult a qualified health professional.