We rely on our wrists for almost everything. Opening doors, looking at our phone screens and even the task of eating all rely on our ability to turn our wrists. But have you ever heard a clicking or popping sound when you rotate your wrist?

The popping sound you hear when you rotate your wrist is due to crepitus. This occurs when the joint between our hand and our arm becomes stretched, causing pressure that pulls gasses out of the joint fluid and makes a popping or clicking sound. However, if the crepitus is accompanied by pain, weakness or swelling in the wrist, then that is a sign that something more serious might be going on.

What could be causing my wrist to pop when I rotate it?

There are several conditions that might be the culprit behind your popping wrist. Some of the most common include:

• Tendinitis — Repetitive movements or traumatic injury can lead to inflammation of the tendons in your wrist. This condition can cause pain, swelling, and popping or grinding noises in the affected wrist.

• Osteoarthritis — This form of arthritis is the result of the cartilage between our joints deteriorating as we age. When the cartilage in your wrist is worn away, you may experience grinding and popping sounds when moving your wrist. This is usually accompanied by pain and stiffness.

• Carpal tunnel syndrome — This condition is caused by compression of the carpal tunnel nerve in the wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause your wrist to pop, as well as feelings of numbness and tingling in the hands and fingers.

What can physical therapy do to stop my wrist popping when I rotate it?

The team at Rehab Access Physical Therapy has been treating hand and wrist pain for many years. If the popping and pain in your hand and wrist is preventing you from going about your normal routine, it’s time to talk to the experts. Our team can locate the cause of your wrist popping and use one of many proven methods to treat it.

Physical therapy is an effective treatment for many common hand and wrist ailments. The end goal of any physical therapy program is to:

• Reduce your pain.

• Improve wrist posture and flexibility.

• Decrease your risk of future wrist injuries.

Contact us today for more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapy specialists.