A sprain is the stretch or partial tear of ligaments (which connect two bones). A wrist sprain happens when the ligaments that support the wrist bend or twist too far. More to Know The wrist joint is made of bones, ligaments (strong bands that hold the bones together), and tendons (bands that attach muscle to bone). People may sprain a wrist when they trip and hold their hand out to stop the fall. Those who play sports that involve a lot of repeated wrist motions can also get sprains, especially if they take on these activities too quickly. Keep in Mind A wrist sprain is a common injury. While it can be quite painful, it usually heals within a few weeks. All A to Z dictionary entries are regularly reviewed by KidsHealth medical experts. Back to Articles Related Articles Overuse Injuries Overuse (or repetitive stress) injuries happen when too much stress is placed on a part of the body, causing problems like swelling, pain, muscle strain, and tissue damage. Read More Sports and Exercise Safety Playing hard doesn't have to mean getting hurt. The best way to ensure a long and injury-free athletic career is to play it safe from the start. Find out how. Read More Dealing With Sports Injuries You practiced hard and made sure you wore protective gear, but you still got hurt. Read this article to find out how to take care of sports injuries - and how to avoid getting them. Read More First Aid: Strains and Sprains Here's what to do if you think your child has pulled or torn a muscle, ligament, or tendon. Read More X-Ray Exam: Wrist A wrist X-ray is a safe and painless test that can help find the cause of pain, tenderness, swelling, or show deformities of the wrist joint. It can also detect broken bones or dislocated joints. Read More Strains and Sprains Sprains and strains are common injuries, especially for people who play hard or are into sports. Find out what they are and how to recuperate from one. Read More Bones, Muscles, and Joints Without bones, muscles, and joints, we couldn't stand, walk, run, or even sit. The musculoskeletal system supports our bodies, protects our organs from injury, and enables movement. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.