Summary: Snowboarding and in-line skating are two of the fastest growing recreational sports in the United States today, and both are associated with an relatively high risk of injury to the upper extremity. While epidemiological studies suggest that wrist guards may be of some use in preventing injury, there are no published biomechanical studies demonstrating their efficacy. The goals of this investigation are to determine (1) whether wrist guards reduce bone strain in the distal radius, (2) if wrist guards shift the load to the radial midshaft, and (3) if there is a functional difference between different wrist guard designs.
Funding: American Society for Surgery of the Hand