Injuries to the wrist and forearm are more common than you might think. Whether from a fall, a sports injury, or a workplace accident, trauma to the lower arm can affect your ability to work, exercise, and carry out everyday tasks. Understanding the most common causes — and how to prevent them — can help you protect yourself and avoid unnecessary pain and downtime.
Falls: The Most Frequent Culprit
One of the most common ways people injure their wrists or forearms is by falling — especially landing on an outstretched hand, wrist, or forearm. A fall can result in wrist fractures, sprains, or dislocations. Whether you’re walking on an uneven sidewalk or a wet floor, falls can happen fast and often without warning. To reduce your risk of falling, always wear supportive footwear, be mindful of your surroundings, walk slowly on uneven or slippery terrain, and use a handrail (if available) or other support when walking in areas prone to slips or trips.
Sports Injuries
Athletic activities — particularly contact sports like football, basketball, and soccer — pose a high risk of wrist and forearm trauma. Repetitive motions (such as swinging a racket or throwing a ball), collisions, and accidental impacts during athletic activities can lead to a wide range of wrist and forearm injuries like sprains, fractures, or even tendon trauma. Wearing protective gear and maintaining proper technique during physical activity can go a long way toward injury prevention. If you’re an athlete prone to chronic hand or wrist injuries, you should follow the recommendations of your physical therapist and orthopedic surgeon to limit the chances of reinjury.
Workplace Accidents
For those who work with heavy machinery and tools, or who perform repetitive tasks for work, the risk of wrist and forearm injuries is especially high. Crush injuries and repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are common in construction, manufacturing, and even office environments. To protect yourself, make sure you’re using proper ergonomic techniques, wearing safety equipment, following protocol, and taking regular breaks to rest your hands and arms.
Car Accidents
During a car accident, your instinct may be to brace for impact with your hands. This often results in fractures, dislocations, or soft tissue injuries in the hands, wrists, and forearms. While not always preventable, drivers and passengers can minimize the risk of severe injury by always wearing a seatbelt, maintaining good posture, and being mindful of surroundings at all times. For drivers, maintaining proper hand position on the steering wheel can also help reduce injury severity.
Getting Treatment
While many wrist and forearm injuries can be prevented with proper safety measures — like wearing protective gear, practicing good ergonomics, and staying alert — accidents still happen. When they do, prompt and expert care is essential. Here at Fort Orthopedic Hand Center, we specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of wrist and forearm trauma, from minor sprains to complex fractures and tendon injuries. Whatever the cause of your injury, we’re here to help you heal and regain function.
The best defense is awareness. By understanding the common causes of wrist and forearm trauma and taking proactive steps to avoid them, you can reduce your risk of wrist and forearm trauma — and keep your hands and arms strong, healthy, and pain-free.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Fort, call (305) 209-5522 or contact us online today.