Find Relief from Wrist Pain
Wrist pain can make everyday activities more difficult than they should be. Whether you're typing at your computer, lifting, cooking, exercising, or simply using your hands throughout the day, persistent wrist pain can affect your ability to work and enjoy the activities you love.
At Bodyworks Physical Therapy in Fargo, we help patients identify what's causing their wrist pain and develop individualized treatment plans for orthopedic conditions affecting the wrist. Whether your symptoms developed gradually from repetitive use or started after an injury, our goal is to reduce pain, restore strength and mobility, and help you get back to using your hands with confidence.
We proudly serve patients throughout Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Horace, and the surrounding communities. No referral is needed for most major insurance plans.
Common Causes of Wrist Pain
Wrist pain can develop from a variety of injuries and conditions, including:
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Wrist tendonitis
Wrist arthritis
Wrist sprains
Overuse injuries
Repetitive strain injuries
Sports-related injuries
Ligament injuries
Post-surgical recovery
During your evaluation, we’ll determine what’s contributing to your symptoms so treatment can address the underlying cause, not just where it hurts.
Wrist Pain Symptoms We Treat
You may benefit from physical therapy if you're experiencing:
- Wrist pain with typing or computer work
- Pain when gripping or lifting
- Wrist stiffness
- Swelling around the wrist
- Tingling or numbness in the hand or fingers
- Weakness in the wrist or hand
- Difficulty with everyday tasks
- Pain during exercise or sports
- Reduced wrist mobility
- Recurring wrist pain with repetitive activities
Whether your symptoms developed gradually or followed an injury, physical therapy can help restore comfortable movement and function.
Wrist Conditions We Treat
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it travels through the wrist. It can cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or discomfort in the hand and fingers, particularly with repetitive activities.
Physical therapy may focus on improving wrist and forearm mobility, strengthening supporting muscles, nerve gliding techniques, and activity or ergonomic modifications to reduce strain on the wrist.
Wrist Trendonitis
Wrist tendonitis can develop when the tendons around the wrist become irritated from repetitive movements or overuse. Activities such as typing, lifting, sports, and repetitive hand movements can contribute to tendon irritation.
Treatment focuses on reducing irritation while gradually restoring strength and flexibility. Depending on your needs, treatment may include activity modification, manual therapy, stretching, and progressive strengthening exercises.
Wrist Arthritis
Arthritis can cause wrist pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced mobility. These symptoms can make everyday activities such as gripping, lifting, or cooking more difficult.
Physical therapy can help maintain wrist mobility, strengthen the muscles surrounding the joint, and teach joint protection strategies that reduce stress during daily activities.
Wrist Sprains
Wrist sprains occur when the ligaments supporting the wrist are stretched or torn. They can happen after a fall, sudden twist, sports injury, or other trauma and may cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and reduced strength.
Rehabilitation focuses on restoring range of motion, strength, and stability so you can safely return to normal activities. Bracing may also be recommended when appropriate to support the wrist during recovery.
How Physical Therapy Helps Wrist Pain
Every treatment plan is individualized, but may include:
- Wrist and forearm mobility exercises
- Strengthening exercises
- Nerve gliding techniques
- Flexibility exercises
- Activity modification
- Ergonomic recommendations
- Bracing when appropriate
- Functional movement retraining
- Home exercise program
Our Approach to Treating Wrist Pain
At Bodyworks Physical Therapy, we look beyond the wrist itself. Your forearm, elbow, shoulder, posture, movement patterns, and the activities you perform every day can all influence how your wrist functions.
By evaluating the entire movement system and understanding how your symptoms affect your daily life, we create a treatment plan designed to reduce pain, restore function, and help prevent future problems.
FAQs About Wrist Pain
Do I need a referral for physical therapy for wrist pain?
No. Most major insurance plans allow direct access to physical therapy, so you can schedule an evaluation for your wrist pain without a physician referral.
Can physical therapy help with wrist pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome?
Yes. Depending on the cause and severity of your wrist pain, physical therapy may help improve mobility, reduce strain on the median nerve, strengthen the wrist and forearm, and address activities or positioning that may be contributing to your wrist pain.
How long does wrist pain take to improve with physical therapy?
Recovery from wrist pain depends on the underlying condition, how long you've been experiencing wrist pain, and your individual goals. Your therapist will develop a treatment plan based on your specific needs and monitor your progress throughout recovery.
Can I continue using my wrist while recovering from wrist pain?
Often, yes. Rather than stopping all activity, your therapist can help you modify work, exercise, and daily activities to reduce wrist pain and irritation while maintaining as much function as possible.
Other Services
Vertigo | Dizziness & Balance
Corrective treatment for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
Post Surgical Rehabilitation
Following a procedure, our commitment is to return a patient to their prior physical function.
Manual Therapy
Enhance healing with Bodyworks PT's manual therapy: evidence-based hands-on techniques for pain and mobility.
Dry Needling
Dry Needling: Relax muscle knots using fine needles. Effective for pain, mobility issues. Benefits a variety of conditions.
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