Do wrist guards have the potential to protect against wrist injuries in bicycling, micro scooter riding, and monkey bar play?

Abstract

Objective: To test the potential of wrist guards to prevent wrist injury in recreational activities that require good grip strength and hand dexterity.

Methods: Forty eight children aged 5-8 years from one Melbourne school volunteered for tests chosen or devised following a review of the literature on the effects of orthoses use and hand function.

Results: Wrist guard wearing significantly degraded grip strength, bicycle steering, and performance on a monkey bar. Micro scooter steering was not significantly affected by their use.

Conclusion: Wrist guards designed for skating are not recommended for bicycle riding and playing on climbing apparatus, and their suitability for scooter riding requires further investigation.