Pain in the wrist

The wrist is the joint that connects the radius of the forearm with the hand. The various small bones that lie between the radius and the hand form a complex set of small joints. Pain in the wrist often leads to limited movement and may develop suddenly or gradually.

Anatomy of the wrist

The wrist joint consists of two imaginary rows of four small bones each. These are called the 'carpal bones' or in Latin 'ossa carpalia'. The front (proximal) row of carpal bones is connected to the radius. This connection is called the 'radiocarpal' joint. The carpal bones in the proximal row are the os scaphoideum, os lunatum, os triquetrum and os pisiforme. The back (distal) row of carpal bones connects to five metacarpal bones, the ossa metacarpalia. The connection between the front and back rows of carpal bones is called the mediocarpal joint.

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex
The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) connects the ulna with the radius and a carpal bone called the os triquetrum. It is a cartilage-like disc located together with several ligaments on the little finger side of the wrist. The disc is also referred to as the meniscus of the wrist, in reference to the meniscus of the knee.

Carpal tunnel
On the palm side of the wrist runs a narrow tunnel through which the flexor tendons of the thumb and fingers, some blood vessels, and a nerve called the median nerve pass. This tunnel is called the carpal tunnel. On one side it is surrounded by the carpal bones and on the other - the palmar side - by a tendon sheath, the flexor retinaculum.

Stability
The passive stability of the wrist is largely provided by a complex structure of various ligaments. Active stability is provided by the muscles that coordinate the movements of the hand and wrist.

Tendon sheaths
To allow the tendons to glide smoothly over one another, the tendons pass through tendon sheaths in various places. These are fluid-filled tubes that protect the tendons from friction and pressure.

Check your wrist complaints

Would you like to get a better idea of what could be causing the pain in your wrist? Then do the online physiotherapy check. Indicate where you feel pain and answer some questions about your symptoms. At the end of the physiotherapy check, your complaints will be compared to the most common conditions in physiotherapy. If you wish, you can visit a participating physiotherapy practice for professional help.

Conditions of the wrist

Below is an overview of conditions that can cause pain in the wrist. Each article provides extensive information about the symptoms, causes and possible treatments. When you complete the online physiotherapy check, your complaints are compared with all these conditions.