What Does Wearing a Wrist Brace Do? Clinical Benefits
What does wearing a wrist brace do?
The Quick Answer
Wrist braces **immobilize or restrict motion** to protect healing tissues, maintain neutral alignment reducing nerve compression (critical for carpal tunnel), decrease pain through joint unloading, and provide proprioceptive feedback reminding users to avoid harmful positions. Nighttime use prevents flexion during sleep that exacerbates carpal tunnel symptoms. Braces support—but don't cure—underlying conditions; they're adjuncts to comprehensive treatment including ergonomic modification and strengthening.
Why We Ask This
Patients wear braces continuously expecting them to 'fix' wrist problems, neglecting essential rehabilitation exercises—leading to temporary symptom relief followed by recurrence when braces are removed due to unresolved muscle weakness or nerve compression.
The Practical Science
Neutral wrist positioning (0–15° extension) reduces carpal tunnel pressure by 40% versus flexed positions—critical since pressure >30mmHg compromises median nerve blood flow. Rigid braces maintain this alignment during sleep when unconscious flexion occurs; flexible supports provide daytime proprioceptive cues without complete immobilization.
In Clinical Practice
A dental hygienist with carpal tunnel wears a rigid splint nightly (maintaining neutral alignment during 8 hours of sleep) and a flexible support during work (providing tactile feedback to avoid extreme flexion)—reducing nocturnal paresthesia by 70% within 2 weeks while concurrently performing nerve gliding exercises.
References & Context
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