A broken wrist is one of the most common fractures we see in Penang. The causes are predictable: motorcycle accidents on busy roads like Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah and the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, falls on wet floors during monsoon season, elderly residents tripping at home, and sports injuries from futsal, badminton, or cycling. Whatever the cause, once the cast or surgical fixation comes off, physiotherapy is what gets your wrist working properly again.
Types of Wrist Fractures and How They’re Treated
The most common wrist fracture is a distal radius fracture – a break at the end of the larger forearm bone, near the wrist joint. This typically happens when you fall and catch yourself on an outstretched hand. Other wrist fractures involve the scaphoid bone (a small bone on the thumb side) or multiple bones in more severe injuries.
Treatment depends on the fracture type and severity:
- Simple, stable fractures are treated with a cast or splint for 4-6 weeks.
- Displaced fractures may need a closed reduction (the doctor manually realigns the bones) followed by casting.
- Unstable or complex fractures often require surgery – plates and screws to hold the bones in place while they heal. Orthopaedic surgeons at Penang General Hospital, Gleneagles, Island Hospital, and other Penang hospitals perform these procedures regularly.
Regardless of how the fracture was treated, physiotherapy after immobilisation is crucial. Without it, you’re likely to end up with a stiff, weak wrist that struggles with basic tasks.
What Happens After the Cast Comes Off
When your cast is removed – usually 4-6 weeks after the fracture – your wrist will look and feel different. Expect:
- Stiffness. Your wrist won’t move as far as it used to. This is normal after weeks of immobilisation.
- Weakness. Your grip strength will be significantly reduced. Even opening a jar or turning a key may be difficult.
- Swelling. Some residual swelling is common and may persist for weeks.
- Sensitivity. The skin may be tender, dry, or hypersensitive.
- Muscle wasting. The muscles in your forearm will look visibly smaller than the other side.
This is where physiotherapy starts. Your physio will assess your range of motion, strength, and function, then build a progressive rehabilitation programme.
Exercises for Wrist Fracture Recovery
Start these only after your doctor or physiotherapist has cleared you to begin rehabilitation. Never force through sharp pain.
Wrist flexion and extension: Rest your forearm on a table with your hand hanging over the edge. Slowly bend your wrist up, then down. Do 3 sets of 10 in each direction. Move gently – you’re not trying to force range, just gradually encourage it.
Wrist circles: With your forearm supported, slowly draw circles with your hand. Do 10 clockwise, then 10 anticlockwise. This mobilises the joint in all directions.
Forearm rotation: With your elbow bent at 90 degrees and tucked against your side, slowly turn your palm up, then palm down. This pronation and supination movement is essential for daily tasks like eating with a spoon or turning a doorknob.
Grip strengthening: Squeeze a soft ball or rolled-up towel. Hold for 5 seconds, release, repeat 10 times. Progress to a firmer ball as strength improves. You can also use a rubber band around your fingers, stretching it open to strengthen the extensors.
Finger tendon glides: Start with your fingers straight, then make a hook fist, then a full fist, then a straight fist (fingers bent at the large knuckles only). This keeps the tendons gliding smoothly through the wrist area.
Wrist strengthening with a can: Once your range of motion is reasonable, hold a small tin can (like a can of sardines) and do wrist curls – palm up, curl the wrist up; palm down, curl the wrist up. 3 sets of 10 each direction.
Recovery Timeline
Weeks 1-2 after cast removal: Focus on gentle range of motion and reducing swelling. Use ice for 15 minutes after exercises. Elevate the hand when resting.
Weeks 3-6: Progressive strengthening begins. Grip exercises, resistance exercises, and functional tasks like writing, typing, and cooking.
Weeks 6-12: Return to most daily activities. Progressive loading – carrying bags, lifting heavier objects, returning to exercise and sports.
3-6 months: Full recovery for most people, though some stiffness or aching with weather changes can persist longer. Scaphoid fractures and surgical cases may take longer.
Special Considerations for Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Motorcycle accidents are a leading cause of wrist fractures in Penang. These injuries are often more complex – higher-energy impacts mean the fracture may involve the joint surface, or there may be associated injuries to ligaments, tendons, or other bones. Riders who fracture their wrist often have concurrent injuries (road rash, shoulder injuries, concussion) that complicate rehabilitation.
If your wrist fracture was from a motorcycle accident, make sure your physiotherapist knows about any other injuries. You may also benefit from a hand therapy specialist for complex fracture patterns.
When to See a Physiotherapist
Don’t wait until something feels wrong. Start physiotherapy within the first week after cast removal or as soon as your surgeon gives the go-ahead after surgery. Research shows that earlier physiotherapy after wrist fractures leads to faster recovery of grip strength and range of motion.
A home visit physiotherapist can work with you on exercises using items you already have at home – towels, cans, rubber bands. They’ll also check how you’re managing daily tasks and suggest modifications if needed. For elderly patients who fractured their wrist in a fall, the physio can also assess fall risk and help prevent future injuries.
If you’re recovering from a wrist fracture in Penang, reach out to us on WhatsApp to arrange a home physiotherapy assessment. Getting proper rehab early makes a real difference in how well your wrist recovers.
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Reviewed by
M. Thurairaj
Registered Physiotherapist