• Paul Karabardak’s Wrist Arthritis

    Do you suffer from arthritis? Find out how Paul Karabardak is looking after his injury and what others with arthritis should do to treat the complaint.

    The Injury

    British Paralympic Table Tennis player Paul Karabardak developed progressive wrist arthritis after a series of falls while training for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

    Describing the injury, Karabardak told PhysioRoom.com how he suffered “pain” and “aching” in the wrist. Symptoms such as these are key indicators of wrist arthritis and are often listed among swelling, stiffness, weakness and instability.

    The Treatment

    Wrist arthritis (also known as wrist osteoarthritis) usually occurs after a wrist fracture or damage to the wrist ligament. Actions such as gripping or turning motions can become cumbersome for the person who suffers from it.

    An orthopaedic doctor will be able to assess the nature of an individual’s condition and will recommend treatments appropriately.

    For day to day management a wrist support is a simple way to stabilise the wrist and ease stress on this area. Regular exercise using grip strengtheners,Therapeutic Putty and Hand Therapy Balls are good for improving grip and dexterity in the hands.

    Physiotherapy is beneficial for halting further degeneration in the wrist and also aids mobility. This is done through massage and exercise.

    A doctor may prescribe anti inflammatory gel and / or Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and in the event of flare ups. If there is chronic pain in the wrist then using a TENS Machine is helpful. Applying cold therapy to the wrist in the form of an ice pack can also work to reduce swelling and aches.

    The progressiveness of Karabardak’s injury meant surgery was required on his wrist. Every six months he is also given hyaluronic acid injections. Invasive treatment such as corticosteroid injections is only generally sought if there is pain during periods of rest. If this overtime becomes ineffective then surgery is worth considering.

    The Outcome

    With combination of physiotherapy, medical treatment and wearing of the Vulkan Silicone Wrist Support, Paul Karabardak is continuing to play table tennis. He recently qualified for the London 2012 Paralympics and is looking to gradually increase his training schedule in the run up to the event.

    Commenting on why he chose the Vulkan Silicone Wrist Support, he said: “I’ve been using it for a few years.”A couple of different supports were tried but none were as good as the Vulkan.”

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