Experts Urge 4 Wrist Exercises to Cut Arthritis Risk as 1 in 7 Americans Are Affected
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Sep 7
Experts Urge 4 Wrist Exercises to Cut Arthritis Risk as 1 in 7 Americans Are Affected
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Sep 7
Summary
Four home exercises done in three sets of 10 reps, three or four times a week, can help protect wrists from overuse, injury and later arthritis, according to orthopaedic and rehabilitation specialists.
Experts say shoulder strengthening, grip work, wrist flexion-extension with light resistance, and supination-pronation improve stability, unload the joint and may even strengthen wrist bones.
Wrist arthritis affects as many as one in seven Americans and often stems from old injuries, repetitive twisting or falls that seem resolved but trigger pain and dysfunction decades later.
Diet also matters: calcium-rich foods such as sardines and dairy may help limit osteoporosis risk, while reducing excess body fat can improve wrist biomechanics.
The advice reflects broader health concerns, with doctors calling the wrist a 'sentinel joint' because rheumatoid arthritis often appears there first and stronger grip in later life tracks with better overall health.