HEALTH EXPERT BUYING GUIDE
Summary: The Nike wrist and thumb wrap is soft, lightweight and breathable. It provides support for the base of thumb, palm and wrist.
Use: Best for martial arts and gym workouts.
Design: Black. Wrap style support. Made from 4% Spandex, 27% Polyester, 38% Nylon, 26% SBR, 5% CR
Sizing: One size fits all
Price: £14
Summary: The Bulk™ wrist wraps have an extended Velcro tab with a thumb loop to keep them in place during your workout. Perfect for gym-goers to help prevent wrist injuries.
Use: Best used for all types of weight lifting to support your wrists with both pressing and pushing exercises.
Design: Black design with rubber logo badging
Sizing: One size fits all
Price: £5.84 pair
Summary: A snug fit providing support to reduce movement for conditions that require regular periods of rest.
Use: Use to provide support to your wrist to reduce movement for conditions such as tendonitis and carpal tunnel whilst sleeping or resting your wrist to keep it in a neutral position.
Design: The patented design adapts to your hand shape with it’s thin and lightweight material for a comfy fit.
Sizing: 3 sizes available.
Price: £24.95
Summary: This unisex support is designed to to provide snug compression and everyday support for wrist and base of thumb pain.
Use: Designed to help relieve discomfort from strains, sprains and instability.
Design: Manufactured from Elastane Polyamide. Provides a compressive, flexible fit. Breathable moisture wicking fabric.
Sizing: Fits the right or left hand. 3 sizes available.
Price: £14
Summary: The high quality unisex Neo G wrist support comes with an adjustable strap for compression and extra support.
Use: Medical grade wrap-around wrist support used to help with symptoms of tendon overuse, wrist pain or repetitive strains from occupational activities and sports. Provides support to joints and muscles, aiding recovery and relief.
Design: Manufactured from neoprene which helps to keep your wrist warm and supported.
Sizing: Unisex. One size fits either wrist.
Price: £16
Wrist pain is another common ailment that many people suffer from. The NHS states that common causes include repetitive motions, bruising, or lifting too much weight. Common symptoms include carpal tunnel syndrome, swelling, bruising, and difficulty gripping anything. A wrist support helps reduce pain from these symptoms and also aids in the rehabilitation process from wrist injuries.
A wrist sleeve or compression sleeve is the simplest type of wrist support. This is used to provide compression and pain relief to your wrist and hand. A wrist sleeve is a band of an elastic material such as neoprene or nylon. It fits over your hand and usually sits directly on your wrist, with some of the band fitting on your lower arm.
If you need more support than a simple sleeve, a wrist brace is a great option. A wrist brace still has a band of material that acts as a sleeve around your wrist. However, it typically extends to your hand and has a hole that your thumb first through. Thus, it sits on your hand almost like a glove – but without the fingers. The thumb is left exposed and you still have full movement of your fingers when wearing a wrist brace.
An alternative to a wrist brace is a wrist guard – which is best for added protection during sports.
For specific injuries to your thumb and wrist, a thumb brace is a great idea. This is essentially the same as a wrist brace. However, the key difference is that instead of having an exposed thumb, it has a small sleeve that fits around your thumb. Oftentimes the thumb section also has an adjustable strap so that you can tighten it and apply more compression if needed.
There are also wrist braces that have additional wrapping mechanisms and supports. A wrist brace with straps is the most flexible and can be adjusted to suit your healing process or the amount of pain you are feeling.
This type of brace has a sleeve that fits around your wrist and onto part of your hand – with an exposed thumb. However, over this, there is usually a series of adjustable straps. These can be tightened and are secured either via Velcro or some type of buckle mechanism.
Wrist straps like these are best for exercise such as weightlifting.
A simple wrist sleeve is usually the best option to wear when playing sports or for mild wrist pains. A sleeve compresses the wrist but still allows for full movement. In contrast, if you have a more serious injury or condition like carpal tunnel, or tendonitis, a full wrist brace is the better choice.
Lastly, if you have had surgery, or suffered from a fractured wrist, for example, a wrist brace with straps can provide more compression and pain relief.
Yes. A wrist support is one of the primary methods of healing and pain relief for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, tendonitis, and general wrist pains. Wearing a wrist brace can greatly help reduce inflammation and as a result helps reduce pain. If you wear a wrist brace consistently, it can also help reduce the need for potential surgery.
Yes – depending on the condition you have, and the severity of the injury. For example, if you have simply strained your wrist lifting an object, a support may not be necessary. In this instance, simply resting could be the best course. However, if you find that the pain doesn’t go away, or you get a recurring injury, a support may help. Also, for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, a wrist support is highly recommended.
If you’re recovering from an upper body sports injury, check out our buying guides to elbow support, knee support, ankle support and shoulder support.