Choosing the Best Wrist Brace (2024)

FAQs

Choosing the Best Wrist Brace? ›

When looking for a wrist brace here are some general guidelines to consider. Right support: You want to choose a brace that supports the wrist in the neutral position. Material – to prevent odor choose a soft and breathable material that is machine washable. Fit and comfort – choose a brace that is adjustable.

Best Overall

The BraceOwl Carpal Tunnel Wrist Brace offers nighttime support to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Featuring a removable metal splint for added stability, it comes equipped with a built-in bead design that applies gentle pressure to the palm.

Begin by using a ruler to measure the width of your wrist at the point where it meets your hand, as shown on the diagram below. Then, follow our guide to know which size will work best for you. It is best to use calipers, micrometers, or rulers. If using a tape measure, do not allow it to bend or curve.

Gradually build up to half hour periods two times daily, • Then to one hour periods once daily. This will enable you to become accustomed to wearing it. (All guidance is approximate). Following this, wear your wrist brace during activities which put strain on your wrist such as carrying, housework or gardening.

Wrist braces are similar to wrist supports but often offer more rigid and immobilizing features. The goal of a wrist brace is to limit movement of the wrist, which is why they are made of much thicker material than wrist supports. A wrist brace may include a splint to restrict motion even further.

Your wrist splint should have a metal bar in them to limit wrist movement. It should not limit your thumb or finger movement (Figure 1). If you are going to use your splint to treat Carpal Tunnel condition, you should ideally flatten the bar of the splint. This gives your wrist nerve more space to move.

You can find a wrist brace, which is sometimes called a splint, in most drug stores. Or an occupational therapist can make one for you. When you put on the brace, you'll want it to be snug, but not too tight. You want to make sure you don't put even more pressure on your carpal tunnel.

For this, you will need a piece of string (i.e. parcel string) and a ruler. Simply wrap the piece of string around your wrist ( not too tightly) where you would normally wear a watch and either mark or hold the string when it meets the starting point. The place the string flat on a ruler and measure the length.

I sent a poll to all StrapHabit subscribers to share their wrist sizes, and have compiled the results. The data is shown below. As you can see, the majority of people were between 6.5 and 7.5 inches. A few were under 5.5, and no one who responded was over 8.5 inches.

You can wear the wrist splint overnight, but we suggest 8 hours as the limit. Throughout the day, you should remove the wrist support every now and again and do gentle movements and wrist exercises to ensure an effective recovery from your condition.

What kind of wrist brace is best for tendonitis? ›

The Push med Wrist Brace is the ideal brace for women or men with: Carpal tunnel syndrome. Minor wrist injuries. Tendinitis of wrist tendon(s)

Wrist splints are a lot like wrist braces, but they have a rigid splint to restrict motion for extra support. While they may not always offer complete relief, they do minimize pressure on nerves while supporting and stabilizing your wrist for quicker healing.

Some experts advise against wearing a wrist splint while working, because doing so can strain the hand's tendons. A wrist splint is a helpful short-term treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. But long-term use can cause your muscles to weaken.

Stiff wraps(leather or nylon) are better for heavy lifting where you want minimal wrist flexibility and maximal support, such as bench and overhead presses. A more flexible yet still supportive wrap (cotton or nylon) is better for dynamic exercise like the Olympic lifts and gymnastics, as well as general lifting.

When using a keyboard or mouse, your wrists should be in a neutral position, not bent upward or downward. Invest in an ergonomic keyboard and mouse that supports a natural wrist posture, allowing your hands to float comfortably over the keys.

Are Wrist Rests Ergonomic? In the vast majority of cases, wrist rests do not provide any significant ergonomic benefit and in fact will usually increase the number of risk factors for injury in your computer workstation.