Wrist Wrap vs Wrist Splint — Which Is Better for Typing?

Wrist injuries tend to be common nowadays. They happen to office workers, students, and athletes.

This is because in these types of activities, rapid wrist movements are essential and can determine impact performance.

Despite being an athlete, wrist injuries can be experienced by just anyone. The reason behind wrist injury is overuse.

This is a repetitive wrist motion. It happens every day when we engage in activities. It may be writing, typing, or scrolling through the phone. 

That’s where wrist supports become your necessary aid for typing activities. Now the confusion comes when different names of wrist supports appear.

For instance, a wrist wrap and a wrist splint. Without knowledge about this support, one can easily think that they mean the same thing.

In this guide, we’ll learn about choosing the right support for typing between a wrist wrap and a splint. Again, we will look at the differences between the two of them.

Understanding a Wrist Wrap and When to Use It

A wrist wrap is an orthopedic piece of fabric. It is usually made from cotton with elastic and Velcro. It is wrapped tightly around the wrist joint.

It is meant to provide support, stability, and compression. The wrist support prevents overextension of the wrist muscles. It helps reduce pain and continuous strain to the wrist.

When to Use a Wrist Wrap?

• Typing: Necessary for preventing continuous sprain application to the wrist joint and tendons. You can wear it again when writing.
• Lifting Loads and Exercise: A wrist wrap can help manage strain when lifting heavy objects. You can wear it for high-load exercises. This includes bench presses, overhead presses, overhead squats, etc.
• Injury Prevention: A wrist wrap can be worn for the purpose of preventing injury. It offers proprioception. This activates the ability of your mind to be mindful of your hand placement. It helps stay away from activities that will cause harm. 
• Wrist Instability: The wrist can be worn to support weakened wrist muscles. It provides stability such that you can engage in activities comfortably. 
• Managing Pain: You can wear a wrist wrap when feeling pain in the wrists. It applies compression and warmth to the wrist muscles. This is necessary to alleviate pain and boost recovery. 

Understanding a Wrist Splint and When to Use It

A wrist splint is contrary to a wrap. It is usually rigid and at times semi-rigid. The orthopedic wrist splint is often made of plastic or metal with padded fabric. It is made to immobilize the wrist joint in a neutral (balanced) manner. This wrist support is worn to relieve pressure on nerves, reduce pain, and support healing. 

When to Use a Wrist Splint

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The splint prevents the wrist from bending. This is mostly necessary at night. Wearing it helps reduce nerve compression.
• Sprain and Strain: A wrist splint provides stability to the wrist joint. After a serious injury, it limits unnecessary wrist movement. 
• Fractures: You can wear a splint when your wrist gets fractured. Its rigid features help maintain the alignment necessary during recovery. It makes sure that your bones and ligaments heal in an effective and safe manner.
• Arthritis or tendonitis: Wearing a splint in this case limits motion-induced pain.
• Injury and Post-Surgery: The wrist splint helps prevent risky movement. This enables the process of healing to be quicker and more effective. It ensures that the vulnerable wrist is protected from re-injury.

Wrist Wrap vs Wrist Splint

Tips for Wrist Wrap and Splint Usage

• Wear a wrist wrap during activity only. Remove it when you are not doing anything. 
• Avoid Overuse. Wearing both the wrap and splint for a prolonged duration might weaken wrist muscles. 
• A wrist support is not an excuse to not engage in any activity. Keeping the wrist still can trigger stiffness and numbness even when wearing the wrist support. 
• Incorporate hand-strengthening exercises and stretches. This enhances recovery and wrist mobility. 
• Wash the wrist wrap or splint when dirt and moisture get trapped. 
• Store your wrist support in a cool and dry environment. Keep it away from heat and dusty places.
• Implement pain relief measures such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation RICE therapy. 
• Massage around the wrist to release tension and boost blood circulation.
• Do not be tempted to apply fabric conditioners and deodorant to the wrist wrap. This can cause a skin rash and irritation when you wear it. 
• Simply make sure that you wear the wrist wrap/splint properly. Get assistance from a pharmacist or your doctor. 

Habits To Boost Wrist Health

Wearing a wrist support is not the only way to protect your wrist from discomfort. There are habits that you should incorporate into your day-to-day life. 

• Refrain from doing tasks that apply excessive strain on your wrist. For instance, lifting a heavy gym dumbbell that is more than what you can handle.
• Reduce some unnecessary activities. You might be straining your wrist when it is not even urgent or necessary. This could be playing a game on your laptop for a long time when you are supposed to rest.
•  Keep a neutral or rather safe wrist posture during tasks.
• Position your laptop/computer and mouse such that you can type comfortably.
• Just make sure your table and chair enable your hand to reach the laptop freely.

Wrapping Up

Wrist wraps and wrist splints are both useful for typing. However, there are several factors that help determine which is better. These factors are centred around you. They include the state of your wrist.

Is it already painful? Do you want to prevent strain? Is your wrist weak? And in what activity do you want to use it for? All these factors contribute to deciding which wrist support to use. 

• Wrist wraps are better to wear for typing when you want to prevent strain in most cases. You can wear these orthopedic supports when you are managing minor wrist discomfort. The wrist wrap provides gentle stabilization and compression. This means that they leave a room where you can type freely.
• You may consider wearing a wrist splint in cases where your wrist is fractured. It can be worn when managing chronic strain and sprains. This wrist aid is useful for post-surgery care. It provides semi-rigid to rigid support. This means that it might be hard to type when wearing this wrist support. 

Find help and advice from a healthcare expert to make it easy and confusion-free. 

FAQ's About Wrist Wraps and Wrist Splints

1. How long can I wear a wrist wrap for typing?

You can simply wear a wrist wrap throughout. However, take short breaks from typing. Continuous typing without rest can generate strain, which triggers swelling and stiffness. Wear it for at least 30 to 1 hour. Be sure to remove it when you are not doing any typing.

2. Why does my wrist hurt after typing or desk work?

Wrist pain after typing usually develops from repetitive movements and poor wrist posture. Your wrist muscles are repetitively engaged in motions that create strain. This happens gradually when you use the mouse and when pressing the keyboard. Such motions irritate the tendons and surrounding tissues. As a result, it triggers inflammation and discomfort.

3. How tight should a wrist support be?

You may have heard of this common myth. It says tighter is better. However, this is untrue. An overly tight wrist wrap/splint can trigger discomfort complications. This might be nerve damage, swelling, or slower recovery. The wrist support should be secure enough to offer firm yet comfortable support. 

4. How can I know my wrist wrap is too tight?

Loss of sensation when moving the wrist and continuous pain even when you are not typing mean the wrap is too tight. A pale and bluish colour may also indicate tightness. Again, the wrap may be tight if you find it difficult to move your hand after you wear it.

5. Should I wear a wrist splint for typing?

No. Unless your doctor says otherwise. A wrist splint is basically meant for short term-use. It is better to wear it when managing a fracture and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

6. Where can I get good-quality wrist support?

You are supposed to consider how credible the brand is before buying. You may consider Leeford Ortho. This brand is reliable and trusted among other brands. They offer both wrist wraps and wrist splints that are user-friendly.

These wrist orthopedic supports are widely known for their durability. You won’t have to worry whether they will wear out fast or not. Their effectiveness sustains even after being washed and used for a prolonged duration.