Hi all,
OK, in summary.
Back in May, fractured my left scaphoid. Took ages to heal, was in cast for 5 months. Was able to ride etc as soon as it was off (doctor said so), slight pain, but not for long, and got full movement back.
About 3 weeks ago, fell fairly hard on ice when snowboarding, slammed hand down. Wrist was pretty painful, back to limited movement etc etc. Had it X-rayed, saw specialist couple days after, and then 2 weeks after. Its gotten a lot better since doing it, still limited movement but not too bad, so doc says just take it easy and shouldn't need a cast for now.
So, for when I ride/board again, I'd like to get some form of guard or support (should really have got one straight after getting it out of the cast).
So, any recommendations?
Seen ones like the EVS one here;
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/protection/wrist-wrap/product/wrist-brace-11-44464
But it doesn't loop round the thumb so not sure how much support it would give?
And then theres the TLD and 661 ones;
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=wrist&CategoryIDs=398
Don't mind spending a bit if it means I get a decent one.
Under glove (biking and board) fit would be good.
I'm hopefully seeing a physio in a few weeks (which I didn't do when I first broke it), could wait to talk to them but would kinda like to get something before then I think?
Cheers, Duane.
Both our girls have had injuries whilst using snowboard wrist guards
Katie dislocated and fractured her wrist
Abgaile snapped her radius where the wrist guard finished
could wait to talk to them but would kinda like to get something before then I think?
you'd rather get the opinion of the internet rather than that of the professional? Seriously, what uni let you in again?
Speak to the physio about it. Wrists 'guards' tend to be useless as the force needs to go somewhere, so they can lead to broken shoulders instead.
Supports are better, but only if needed. Ie, if you let it heal up properly you'll not need a support. Using said support might even get in the way of the healing process (stops build up of muscle, restricts natural movement, etc).
In short, wait for the physio
Haha, OK, so went to physio, was very good. Asked about wrist guards and she said that she didn't really know enough about them to recommend anything, and that I should google it, and ask other people that I ride/board with for their advice 😛
She did say though, when I mentioned about increased risk of breaking forearm when wearing a guard, that the forearm bones are fairly "nice" bones to fracture. And that because my wrist was vulnerable (due to breaking it before) I should definitely consider some form of support for it.
So, any thoughts/ideas/recommendations?
Hi Duane, I'd personally recommend just strapping it so it has slightly more support but not too much to put excessive strain elsewhere.
Strapping with what?
Hi, from personal experience (titanium plate in my wrist now) it is very important you have the right sort of wrist guards for boarding. Not sure re biking. Type skiinjury into google, uk website by a sports medicine doc. He advises the flexmeter guards or the biomex system by level. More research evidence supports the flexmeter gloves. I have the flexmeter ones now and can vouch for them.
strapping with a velcro / neoprene invention or just bandage material
even the pressure and coverage of that would give it additional support.
get on ebay buy a sheet of neoprene for a £5er and get some 2inch wide velcro and sow it together
strapping with a velcro / neoprene invention or just bandage material
even the pressure and coverage of that would give it additional support.
get on ebay buy a sheet of neoprene for a £5er and get some 2inch wide velcro and sow it together
Are you sure it's healed, mine didn't, even after two years, I've just had it bone grafted and screwed, what did the physio consist of? I'm interested as I was told I didn't need any. I have the 661 wrist supports, they have quite a bit of flex, the support is a semi-rigid plastic, avoid the ones with metal supports for obvious reasons. I might give the EVS ones a try myself.
A mate's wrist took 10+ years to get back to normal.
I did both my wrists on my first ever days snowboarding. Not so cool. Since then I wouldn't dream of strapping a board on without wrist guards.
Flexmeter's are cracking
http://www.alpsgear.co.uk/flexmeter-wrist-guards/17-flexmeter-wrist-guards.html
You can get them built-in in a glove as well. But the gloves are not waterproof and they develop an all mighty whiff (friend had the same gloves and the same experience!). But last year I swapped to the strap-on guards and wear my own gloves. They are great pieces of kit and designed by a doctor treating injuries in the alps.
http://www.ski-injury.com/prevention/wrist_guards
Not sure about using them for biking but I don't see why not.
Interesting reading:
[url= http://www.ski-injury.com/prevention/wrist_guards ]http://www.ski-injury.com/prevention/wrist_guards[/url]
This guy recommends Flexmeter and Biomex.
Don't really see how using them for biking is going to work, how are your going to grip the bars?
Both our girls have had injuries whilst using snowboard wrist guardsKatie dislocated and fractured her wrist
Abgaile snapped her radius where the wrist guard finished
I'm assuming from your post that you're suggesting wrist guards are worthless...
I snapped my radius half way up my forearm when wearing wristguards, it was a clean break, it healed quickly, and my wrist is just the same as it was before.
A friend of mine broke his wrist without a wrist guard, it was a terrible break right on the wrist joint, essentially shattering the bone in multiple places. He experienced the best part of a year recovery, needed to wear a permanent wrist support for about 2 years. He's a carpenter and now doesn't hammer properly as he can't bend his wrist in the same way.
When I broke mine I spoke to the doctor in the medical centre in Andorra, he said he'd recommend wrist guards every time. If you fall hard enough you'll break your arm anyway...the longer the wrist guard the further up your arm the break with be. If you don't wear a wrist guard the break will more often than not, be at the wrist joint - breaks here cause the most problems for healing and future mobility. A break in the forearm will be more likely to heal better.
You mention that Katie (I'm assuming your daughter) broke her wrist...are you sure it was on tightly?
I personally would still wear a wrist guard every time. But I'm not a medical professional so this is just based on my experience, if I was you I'd get advice from someone in the industry.
Not suggesting anything, Katies were on correct, she was pushed over by a skier. We have wore wrist guards every snowboarding holiday since then and will probably wear them this year however Abigale has been told by the consultant not to wear one on the damaged arm
I broke mine many years ago. It took ages to get properly diagnosed and by the time I had surgery it was fused back together so the surgeon left it. I wore the 661 wrist wraps for a year or two and they certainly gave decent support for a reasonable loss in mobility. I found it very hard to up-shift with my thumb. Its better these days but still aches a bit so I wear gloves with an extra wrap around the wrist. Pretty much full mobility with added support. Something like this (although mine are Fox but I can't find a replacement anywhere)
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I wore these dakine guards for skiing after the op. They are designed for boarding. Quite soft and comfortable.
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Broke my radius wearing Dakine guards slipping on ice - 3 pins to hold it together as it was quite a bad break. I would wear them again though as I dread to think what the damage would have been without them i.e. wrist break/open fracture etc. But I am not a medical professional 😕