[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/01\/wrap-wrist-ankle-sprain\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/01\/wrap-wrist-ankle-sprain\/","headline":"How to Wrap a Sprained Wrist or Ankle","name":"How to Wrap a Sprained Wrist or Ankle","description":"Discover how to properly wrap a wrist or ankle sprain with the help of Dr. Rosen, Medical Director of North Huntingdon Urgent Care.","datePublished":"2015-01-31","dateModified":"2022-10-19","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urgent-care","name":"Urgent Care","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/urgent-care","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/urgent-care\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/how-to-wrap-ankle-or-wrist-sprain-scaled.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/how-to-wrap-ankle-or-wrist-sprain-scaled.jpg","height":1366,"width":2048},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/01\/wrap-wrist-ankle-sprain\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=A1GMbLKZnzA#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=A1GMbLKZnzA","name":"UPMC Urgent Care | Wrapping a Wrist with Dr. Heather Rosen","description":"","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A1GMbLKZnzA\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A1GMbLKZnzA\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A1GMbLKZnzA\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A1GMbLKZnzA\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/A1GMbLKZnzA\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2014-11-11T20:33:00+00:00","duration":"PT1M1S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A1GMbLKZnzA","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCieWcGaXf-a2z0ADF-OoCqQ#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCieWcGaXf-a2z0ADF-OoCqQ","name":"UPMC","description":"As one of the leading nonprofit health systems in the United States, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) develops and delivers Life Changing Medicine.  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Because of the numerous bones and tendons in your wrist, it is important to wrap the sprain\u00a0soon after you’ve been hurt. Wrapping your wrist can help immobilize your wrist and keep swelling down.Heather Rosen, MD, physician and medical director of\u00a0UPMC Urgent Care North Huntingdon, demonstrates how to wrap a sprained wrist yourself.Sprained Wrist SymptomsWhen you sprain your wrist, you likely will feel pain in your wrist area. Other symptoms may include:Bruising.Swelling.Tenderness when you touch it.Popping or tearing feeling inside your wrist.Warm feeling around your wrist.Supplies NeededBefore you go about wrapping a sprained wrist, make sure you have the necessary supplies available, such as:Scissors.Soap and water (to clean your wrist before wrapping).An elastic bandage.Prewrap tape or locking tabs.5 Steps to Wrap a Wrist SprainIt can be difficult to wrap a wrist sprain by yourself. If possible, ask someone else to wrap your wrist for you.If no one is available, do your best to keep your arm stable as you work. It’s especially important to keep your wrist straight, as you don’t want to strain it further.1. Make sure you wrap your wrist and the surrounding area.When you wrap a sprained wrist, you shouldn’t just wrap the wrist itself. In order to provide the right stabilization, you should wrap your bandage above and below the joint. That includes the lower forearm and the hand.2. Start at the forearm.Begin your wrap at the lower part of your forearm and work your way down to the wrist and hand.3. Overlap your bandage.As you work, make sure you overlap each layer of the bandage by about 50 percent. This should help with stability, preventing the bandage from becoming too loose or coming undone.4. Make figure-eight patterns around the joint.After wrapping a layer of the bandage across your hand, around your thumb, you should work your way back up again. Wrap up toward your lower forearm using figure-eight patterns around your wrist. Once you reach the lower forearm, wrap back down again toward the hand. The figure-eight method should help to create stability.5. Fasten your bandage.Once you reach the end of your bandage, you’ll need to secure it. Some bandages are self-adhesive, while others come with fasteners included.Make sure you don’t feel any numbness or tingling in your hand or wrist after finishing. If you do, it may be a sign that the wrap is too tight. Your bandage should fit snugly, but it shouldn’t restrict blood flow.After you’ve secured your injury, visit a\u00a0UPMC Urgent Care\u00a0location near you to have it fully examined.Key Points to Remember When Wrapping a SprainKeep these important tips in mind when wrapping a wrist sprain:Check to make sure you can move your fingers comfortably. If you find the wrap is too tight and causes your fingers to tingle or go numb, unwrap the bandage and start over.Make sure the wrap is taut to provide support.Wrap above and below the joint.Keep the wrist wrapped for a few days, rewrapping it if the bandage gets too loose or too tight.Along with the bandage, you should rest your wrist as much as possible and ice it for 20 minutes two to three times a day.Need more information? Read\u00a0our guide to wrapping joint injuries.When to See a DoctorIf your wrist does not seem to be healing after a few days of using a wrap, you may need to contact a doctor for treatment. You also should see a doctor if you experience:Sudden numbness or tingling.An increase in pain.An increase in swelling.Bruising or locking in your wrist.For more information,\u00a0contact your nearest UPMC Urgent Care location.How to Wrap an Ankle SprainAnkle sprains also can be painful and limit your mobility.As with wrist sprains, wrapping an ankle sprain can help lessen damage to the surrounding tissue. It can reduce swelling and provide support to the injured joint.You will need the same supplies as for a wrist sprain: an elastic bandage, scissors, soap and water, and a fastener.To wrap your ankle sprain:Begin your wrap several inches above the injured ankle. Start your wrap on the inside of the leg and make two wraps around the ankle for stability. Wrap your bandage above and below the joint. Continue wrapping around the foot and ankle in a figure-eight pattern. Use Velcro or a fastener at the end to stabilize your wrap. RELATED:\u00a0Recovery Time for Sprains and StrainsAfter securing your injury, you should visit a nearby UPMC Urgent Care facility for further evaluation. For more information,\u00a0contact your nearest UPMC Urgent Care location.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 31, 2015, and was last reviewed on April 26, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2015","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to Wrap a Sprained Wrist or Ankle","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2015\/01\/wrap-wrist-ankle-sprain\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]