Wrist Drop Physiotherapy in Indirapuram

Why the wrist drops

The muscles that lift the wrist and straighten the fingers are powered by the radial nerve. If that nerve is compressed or damaged, the hand hangs limply when the arm is held out palm down. The most common causes are compression from sleeping on the arm, humeral shaft fractures, and less commonly, nerve damage from lead poisoning, diabetes or problems higher up in the neck or brain.

It's important to know the cause. A stroke can also produce wrist weakness, and that needs very different urgent care.

Why grip is weak too

People are often surprised that their grip feels weak even though the muscles that close the hand aren't affected. The wrist needs to be slightly extended for the finger flexors to work efficiently. With the wrist dropped, grip loses much of its power. A splint that holds the wrist up often restores useful grip immediately.

Rehabilitation

We fit or advise on a wrist extension splint, keep joints supple with daily exercises and, as nerve function returns, introduce active movement and strengthening. Recovery is monitored with regular muscle testing. Many compression-related cases recover within weeks to a few months.

Exercises often used for Wrist Drop

These are exercises our physiotherapists commonly include. Which ones suit you, how many and in what order depends on your assessment and stage of recovery.

All elbow, wrist and hand exercises

Frequently asked questions