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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffIt's impossible to prevent the unforeseen events that often cause a broken wrist or broken hand. But these basic tips may offer some protection.
Build bone strength
Build strong bones by:
- Eating calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese
- Taking calcium supplements, particularly if you are a woman past menopause
- Getting plenty of weight-bearing exercise, such as brisk walking
Prevent falls. Most broken wrists occur when people fall forward onto an outstretched hand. To prevent this common injury:
- Wear sensible shoes
- Remove home hazards
- Light up your living space
- Install grab bars in your bathroom
- Install handrails on your stairways
Use protective gear for athletic activities
Wear wrist guards for high-risk activities, such as:
- In-line skating
- Snowboarding
- Rugby
- Football
- Petron DJ, et al. Distal radius fractures in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Fracture of the finger. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00257. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Anderson BC. Evaluation of the adult patient with wrist pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Woolfrey KG, et al. Orthopedic lesions: Wrist and forearm. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/132876839-5/832233957/1365/124.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50053-6--cesec18_1919. Accessed April 21, 2009.
- Lyn E, et al. Orthopedic lesions: Hand. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and clinical practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/132876839-5/0/1365/121.html?tocnode=51891270&fromURL=121.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50052-4_1733. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- Hand fractures. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00010. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- Bone X-ray (radiography). Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bonerad. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- CT: Body. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=bodyct. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- MRI of the musculoskeletal system. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=muscmr. Accessed May 12, 2009.
- General nuclear medicine. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=gennuclear. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- Wrist fractures. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/WristFractures.aspx. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- Lewiecki EM. Prevention of osteoporosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 23, 2009.
- Ski and snowboard injuries. American Society for Surgery of the Hand. http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/SkiandSnowboardInjuries.aspx. Accessed April 23, 2009.
