Weight-Bearing Wrist Pain

Poor ribcage and thorax positioning can shift excessive load through the arms and make the wrist absorb the consequences. Weight-bearing wrist pain can occur when hand-supported positions mechanically overload the wrist, require more range than the wrist has, or are affected by upstream joint and trunk position. The preferred first intervention for loaded wrist discomfort is to reduce task demand so the person can maintain trunk position. Direct wrist extension stretching should become the main intervention only after ribcage, shoulder, elbow, and forearm contributors have been addressed. Using fists can temporarily keep the wrist neutral and avoid terminal wrist extension during weight-bearing activity.