Your wrist might hurt in extension because of a condition called dorsal wrist impingement syndrome.
Understanding Dorsal Wrist Impingement
Dorsal wrist impingement syndrome specifically involves the back of your wrist. Here's how it typically occurs:
- Capsule Thickening: The capsule, which is the lining of your wrist joint, becomes thicker than normal.
- Pinched Tissue: When you extend your wrist (bending it backwards), this thickened capsule can get pinched between the bones in your wrist joint.
- Pain: The pinching causes pain and discomfort, particularly when you push your wrist into extension.
Activities that May Trigger Wrist Pain in Extension
Several activities can aggravate this condition, including:
- Yoga: Poses like downward dog and plank put significant pressure on your wrists in extension.
- Pushups: The motion and pressure during pushups can exacerbate the pain.
- Everyday Activities: Even simple actions such as pushing yourself up from a chair can cause pain if you have dorsal wrist impingement syndrome.
Why the pain is specific to wrist extension?
Here's a table summarizing the key aspects:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Condition | Dorsal wrist impingement syndrome |
| Location | Back of the wrist joint |
| Mechanism | Thickened joint capsule gets pinched during wrist extension |
| Triggering Activities | Yoga (downward dog, plank), pushups, pushing up from a chair |
| Primary Symptom | Pain when extending (bending backwards) your wrist |
What to do if your wrist hurts in extension?
If you suspect you have dorsal wrist impingement syndrome:
- Rest: Avoid activities that worsen your pain.
- Consult a professional: Seek advice from a doctor, physical therapist, or occupational therapist for proper diagnosis and treatment, which might include:
- Splinting: To restrict wrist movements and allow healing.
- Exercises: Specific exercises can help reduce inflammation and improve wrist stability.
- Medication: Your doctor might prescribe anti-inflammatory medications.
- Modify Activity: If your job requires repetitive wrist movements, take regular breaks and modify movements to lessen extension.
Conclusion
In short, your wrist may hurt in extension due to the pinching of a thickened joint capsule in the back of your wrist, a condition known as dorsal wrist impingement syndrome. Certain activities like yoga, pushups, or simply pushing up from a chair can exacerbate this pain.
