Forearm Brace

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If your thumb, index, and middle fingers often tingle or go numb, especially at night or when you hold something for a while, and you find yourself shaking your hand to get feeling back, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) may be involved.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage at the front of the wrist. The floor and sides are formed by the small wrist bones, and the roof is a strong band of tissue called the transverse carpal ligament. The median nerve and the flexor tendons that bend your fingers and thumb all run together through this tight space.

In a healthy wrist, there is just enough room for those tendons to glide and for the median nerve to carry signals properly. The nerve supplies feeling to the thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger, and it controls some of the small muscles at the base of the thumb that help you pinch, grip, and turn objects.

CTS is more likely in people who:

• Use their hands a lot with the wrist bent (for example in some office‑based, assembly, or manual jobs).
• Have inflammatory conditions that thicken tendon linings or joint tissue.
• Have diabetes or other conditions that affect nerves.
• Are in late pregnancy when fluid retention is common.

In all these situations, there is simply more tissue or fluid inside the tunnel and not much spare space for the nerve.

Typical features include:

• Tingling, numbness, or burning in the thumb, index, and middle fingers (usually not the little finger).
• Symptoms that are worse at night or when the wrist is bent for a long time.
• A habit of shaking or rubbing the hand to get relief.
• Gradually increasing difficulty with small, fiddly tasks.

Inside the tunnel, repeated loading of the finger flexor tendons and prolonged bent wrist positions can cause the tendon sheaths to swell. Because the bones and ligament forming the tunnel do not stretch much, any extra bulk raises pressure. The median nerve is squeezed, its blood supply is affected, and the signals it carries become less reliable. At first this may cause occasional tingling and numbness, especially at night. If the same way of using the hand and wrist continues, symptoms can last longer and may be present more of the time. In more advanced cases, the muscles at the base of the thumb can weaken and thin, making pinching and gripping harder.

This is why persistent CTS symptoms should not be ignored. The longer the median nerve is exposed to raised pressure, the greater the risk that some changes will be slower or harder to reverse. Other problems, such as nerve issues in the neck or further up the arm, can produce similar symptoms, so proper assessment is important.

The key mechanical problems in CTS are:

• The tunnel is tight with little room to spare.
• Bending the wrist forwards or backwards narrows it further.
• Forceful and repeated gripping makes the tendons within the tunnel bulkier and increases tension.

Because bending the wrist and thickening of the tendons inside the tunnel both raise pressure on the nerve, anything that keeps your wrist nearer straight and reduces those repeated squeezes can make a real difference. That is where our brace can help. The aim is not to ‘squeeze’ the tunnel tighter, but to keep your wrist in a neutral, supported position so the median nerve is under less mechanical stress during sleep and everyday tasks.

If you wear our NuovaHealth forearm brace so it covers the lower forearm and wrist:

• The side splints help hold your wrist in a more comfortable in‑between position, not fully bent forwards or backwards. That is especially useful at night, when you are not consciously controlling your wrist angle.
• The firm, even compression and structured shell of the brace make small, unintended wrist movements during light tasks less likely, so the tunnel is not constantly being narrowed and opened again.
• Supporting the forearm close to the wrist means that when you bend your fingers to hold something lightly, the wrist stays steadier and the tendons through the tunnel are under a bit less strain.

In practice, many people find they wake less often with tingling, and can use the hand for longer at work or in daily tasks before symptoms build. Our brace does not cure CTS, but it can reduce repeated “squeezing” episodes on the median nerve while you adjust wrist posture, work set‑up, and, if needed, follow other treatments.

You should see a GP or physiotherapist if:

• Symptoms have been present for several weeks and are not improving.
• They regularly wake you at night.
• You notice increasing weakness in the hand, or thinning of the thumb muscles.

A brace like ours is often one of the early measures clinicians suggest, particularly for night‑time use and during tasks that clearly set symptoms off, but it should be part of a full plan rather than the only measure.

Forearm Tendonitis

If you have a sore spot along your forearm that flares when you grip or lift, then eases with rest but keeps coming back, forearm tendonitis may be involved.

Forearm tendonitis involves inflammation or irritation of the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the bones in your wrist, hand, or along the arm. In the forearm, flexor tendons run along the palm side and help you bend the wrist and fingers; extensor tendons run along the back and help you lift them.

Tendonitis usually appears when a tendon is repeatedly loaded a bit more than it can comfortably repair between bouts of activity. Small areas of fibre damage and irritation develop. This is more likely if you:

• Grip, lift, or twist with your hands a lot at work or in sport.
• Have recently increased your activity level or changed what you do with your hands without building up slowly.
• Work or train with your wrist held in less favourable positions, such as gripping hard with it bent.

At first, you might just notice a localised tender spot along a tendon or at its attachment after a busy day. Over time, pain may turn up earlier in a task or with lighter loads. Mornings or first movement after rest can feel stiff, and the area can be sore when you press on it.

Inside the tendon, repeated overload causes tiny tears in the collagen fibres and local inflammation. If this continues over many weeks or months, the tendon’s internal structure can change. The fibres become less neatly aligned and the tendon can thicken and lose some of its natural “springiness”. This longer‑term state, often called tendinopathy, is more stubborn; the tendon can be slow to settle and more easily irritated by normal activities.

If forearm tendonitis is recognised early and activity is adjusted, tendons can often recover and become more tolerant again. Leaving it to continue without changes can lead to longer‑lasting pain, reduced strength, and a greater tendency for the same area to flare with modest use. Other problems such as nerve irritation or referred pain from the neck can produce similar symptoms to tendonitis, so if you are unsure, it is sensible to have it assessed.

The problem in tendonitis is not that the tendon is “weak” in general, but that it is being stressed too often or too strongly, particularly at certain angles. So the goal is not to stop you using the arm, but to stop the tendon being pulled hardest at the angles it dislikes while you build its strength back up. Our brace is designed to help you do that.

If you wear our long forearm brace over the part of the forearm where the affected tendon runs:

• The rigid splints and snug fit limit how far and how quickly the wrist and forearm can move into the positions that most load the tendon. For example, if the extensor tendons on the back of the forearm are sore, the brace can help stop the wrist lifting up too far under load.
• Supporting the underlying muscles means they do not have to move through such a large range with each repetition, which can blunt the sharpest pulls on the tendon.
• Combined movements that are most likely to flare the tendon – such as strong gripping with a bent wrist or rapid twisting while lifting – are moderated by the brace’s structure.

For you, that may mean gripping, lifting, or turning with less sharp, localised pain in the tendon, and fewer flare‑ups during the day. It becomes easier to keep using the arm within limits, while you work with a clinician (if needed) on:

• Reducing or pacing the tasks that tend to bring your pain on.
• Following exercises to rebuild tendon strength and load tolerance.
• Improving wrist and forearm position for the key things you do.

Our brace does not replace those steps. Its role is to reduce the strain on a sore tendon during demanding spells, so that everyday use and rehabilitation are more manageable and less likely to undo the progress you are making.

Forearm Sprains & Strains

If you felt a sudden pull or jab somewhere along your forearm – between the wrist and elbow – after a twist, awkward catch, or knock, and now that segment is sore to move or press, you may be dealing with a forearm sprain or strain rather than a wrist‑only injury.

A sprain affects ligaments – the strong bands that connect bone to bone and steady joints. A strain affects muscles or their tendons – the tissues that connect muscle to bone and transmit force. In the forearm, the main structures involved are:

• Ligaments and the interosseous membrane between the radius and ulna (the long forearm bones).
• Muscles and tendons running along the forearm itself.

These injuries often occur when:

• The forearm is rotated forcefully – such as when an object twists in your hand or when you change grip quickly under load.
• A fall or blow jars the forearm without obviously spraining the wrist.
• You lift or catch something heavy in a way that makes you feel the strain more in the middle of the forearm than at the joints.

At the time, you usually feel a sharp pain in one local area. Over the next hours or days, that spot may swell, bruise, and remain sore. Pressing on certain points along the forearm hurts, and movements that pull on the injured structure – like turning your palm up or down, or bending the wrist while the forearm is loaded – can reproduce the discomfort, even if the wrist joint feels relatively stable.

In an acute sprain, ligaments or the interosseous membrane may be stretched or have small tears. In a strain, muscle or tendon fibres are overstretched or torn on a small scale. The body responds with inflammation and a repair process, laying down new tissue. If you rest completely for too long, those tissues can become weaker and stiffer. If you push straight back into demanding use, you risk re‑injuring the area before the new tissue has matured.

If these injuries are not managed well, you may be left with an area that is:

• Persistently sore or tight with use.
• More easily re‑injured with similar twists or loads.
• Compensated for by other joints or muscles, potentially shifting strain elsewhere.

Because forearm pain can also be due to tendonitis, nerve issues, or problems starting in the neck or shoulder, it makes sense to have persistent or severe symptoms assessed so you know exactly what is going on.

In forearm sprains and strains, the main problem is that a specific section of tissue in your forearm is now sensitive to certain directions and combinations of movement, especially twisting and loaded bending.

This is where our long forearm brace, with rigid splints on both sides, can be particularly useful. If you centre our brace over the injured area:

• The splints make it harder to twist the forearm fully, so the radius and ulna move more as a unit and the stressed ligaments or membrane between them are not pulled as far.
• Deep wrist bending while the forearm is loaded is reduced, which helps protect any strained muscles and tendons in the region.
• The firm compression supports the soft tissues and can help any lingering swelling settle, giving a more secure feeling when you start to move again.

That means you can begin to use the arm for lighter tasks – washing, dressing, preparing food, carrying smaller items – without repeatedly overstretching the injured fibres. It also allows you to start early rehabilitation exercises, such as gentle rotation and strengthening, within a controlled range.

Forearm sprains and strains are usually managed with:

• A brief period of relative rest and pain and swelling management in the early phase.
• Gradual reintroduction of movement and then strengthening, led or advised by a clinician where needed.
• A staged return to heavier work or sport.

Our brace does not take away the need for that process. Its value is in helping you move and use the arm in a safer, more controlled way during recovery, rather than having to choose between a completely rigid arm or an unprotected one.

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome

If you have tingling or numbness in the little finger and part of the ring finger, and you notice it more when you lean on the heel of your palm on the little‑finger side, the ulnar nerve at the wrist may be under pressure in a space called Guyon’s canal.

The ulnar nerve runs down the inner side of the arm, behind the inner elbow, then along the wrist into the hand. At the wrist, on the little‑finger side, it passes through Guyon’s canal – a short tunnel formed by wrist bones and ligaments at the base of the palm. Inside this confined passage, the nerve splits into branches that supply sensation to the little finger and part of the ring finger, and help control some of the small muscles used in grip and fine hand movements.

Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome is more likely in people who:

• Spend long periods leaning through the heel of the hand on the little‑finger side, such as some cyclists resting heavily on handlebars or people using certain supports at elbow height.
• Use vibrating tools that drive repeated force into the base of the palm.
• Have arthritis or previous injuries near the wrist that alter the structures around the canal.
• Develop small cysts or similar masses that take up space in the canal.

In all of these, there is less room for the nerve in Guyon’s canal or more external pressure on it.

Typical symptoms include:

• Tingling, numbness, or burning in the little finger and the ulnar side of the ring finger.
• Symptoms that worsen when you press on the heel of the palm.
• A feeling of weakness or clumsiness when you try to use the ring and little fingers for fine tasks.

If the problem continues, some of the small muscles in the hand may thin and finger posture can change.

Mechanically, Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome is about local compression of the ulnar nerve at the wrist – a squeeze on the nerve in a tight space at the base of the palm. Thickened ligaments, swollen tissues, bony changes, or cysts can all crowd the canal. Because the canal walls are firm, anything extra inside presses on the nerve, reducing its blood supply and altering its function.

If this is picked up early and pressure on the area is reduced – for example by changing hand positions, improving padding, or adjusting equipment – symptoms can often settle. If the nerve stays compressed for a long time, numbness, weakness, and muscle wasting can be slower to improve, even if later treatment is given. Since similar symptoms can come from ulnar nerve compression higher up at the elbow or from the neck, an assessment is important to identify the true source.

A brace on its own cannot provide padding on the palm – you still need suitable handlebar tape, gloves, or supports for that – but it can help with wrist and forearm position, which influences how load travels through the hand.

When you wear our long brace close to the wrist:

• The splints help keep the wrist nearer a neutral, in‑between position, making it harder to drop into deep flexion, extension, or bending towards the little‑finger side (ulnar deviation). Those extreme positions can tighten the tissues around Guyon’s canal and focus pressure on it.
• Supporting the forearm means that when you lean or grip, the wrist is less likely to collapse inwards so that the little‑finger side of the palm takes most of the weight.
• The compression around the wrist and lower forearm can assist with mild swelling in nearby tissues that might add to nerve pressure.

For example, a cyclist who tends to lean heavily onto the little‑finger side of the palm may, with our brace in place and good handlebar padding, find the wrist stays more level and the base of the palm is less “dug into” the bar. Someone using a tool that causes their wrist to tilt repeatedly could find that the brace makes that tilt harder to reach and hold.

Managing Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome usually includes:

• Reducing prolonged pressure on the little‑finger side of the palm.
• Improving grips, padding, and support.
• Sometimes exercises, splinting, or other treatments recommended by a clinician.

Our brace sits alongside these steps as an extra way to keep your wrist and forearm in positions that are friendlier to the nerve and to share load more evenly up the arm. It does not replace the need to change how you lean or grip. If symptoms are persistent, worsening, or accompanied by weakness or muscle thinning, it is important to see a clinician to confirm the diagnosis and discuss further options.

Wrist Sprains And Ligament Injuries

If you fell on an outstretched hand or twisted your wrist awkwardly, and now have pain and swelling around the wrist joint with some movements feeling unstable or painful, the ligaments that normally hold that joint steady may have been sprained.

These wrist ligaments connect the radius and ulna (forearm bones) to the small wrist bones and link the wrist bones to each other. They keep the radiocarpal and mid‑carpal joints aligned and stop them moving too far when you grip, lift, or bear weight through the hand.

Wrist sprains typically follow:

• A fall where the wrist is forced backwards or forwards.
• A strong twist or wrench of the wrist while catching or carrying something.
• An impact in sport that bends the wrist into an unusual position.

Immediately after the injury, there is often pain and swelling around the wrist, and sometimes bruising. Pressing over certain ligament areas hurts, and moving the wrist into specific directions – or trying to push up using the hand – can feel painful and unsteady. These features are different from pain that sits higher up the forearm, which tends to point more towards a forearm sprain or strain than a wrist‑only problem.

In a mild sprain, ligament fibres are stretched beyond their normal range but largely intact. In more significant sprains, some fibres tear, and the ligament provides less firm support. The body responds with inflammation and extra fluid, making the area sore and stiff.

If these ligament injuries are not looked after:

• The ligaments may not regain their previous tightness.
• The joint can move a bit more than it should, leading to a sense of “wobble” or giving way.
• Over time, joint surfaces may be loaded unevenly, which can contribute to earlier wear.

Because some wrist fractures can look like sprains and some ligament injuries can be complex, it is important to have moderate or severe wrist injuries properly assessed, particularly if there is obvious deformity, major swelling, or marked loss of movement.

Once serious injuries have been ruled out or treated, and your clinician has said it is safe to move into a functional brace – one that allows some movement while still protecting the joint – a long, semi‑rigid support like ours can help that transition.

When you wear our NuovaHealth forearm brace so it includes the lower forearm and wrist:

• The rigid splints support the wrist from both sides and help hold it in a more in‑between position, not fully bent forwards or backwards. Those deep bend positions place the greatest stretch on many wrist ligaments.
• The structured body and compression of the brace reduce small, uncontrolled joint movements between the forearm bones and wrist bones as you go about daily tasks. The wrist feels more “held”, which can improve comfort and confidence.
• Side‑to‑side angling of the wrist is also limited, reducing stress on ligaments that steady the wrist from the thumb and little‑finger sides.

Compared with a soft elastic bandage or a simple strap, our longer brace with dual splints offers firmer control over how the wrist moves, particularly when you are lifting, pushing up, or bearing some weight through the hand. That is why clinicians often recommend this style of support in the functional stage after a sprain, once rigid immobilisation is no longer needed.

Using our brace as advised – for example:

• During work tasks that involve gripping or pushing.
• When doing DIY or sport drills that load the wrist.
• While carrying out the early rehabilitation exercises your clinician has set –

can help protect healing ligaments while you rebuild strength and range of motion. It does not remove the need for those exercises, but it makes it easier and safer to perform them and to use the wrist in day‑to‑day life without repeatedly overstressing the injured structures. That way, you are protecting the joint at the times it is under most pressure.

Arthritis

If your wrist, forearm joints, or elbow often feel stiff and achy, especially first thing in the morning or after heavier use, arthritis may be contributing to what you are feeling.

Arthritis describes conditions where joints become inflamed and their structures are gradually damaged. In the forearm region, this commonly affects the main wrist joint between the radius and the wrist bones, the joints between the radius and ulna, and the elbow joint where the upper arm bone meets the forearm bones.

In a healthy joint, the ends of the bones are covered by smooth cartilage. This cartilage allows the bones to slide over one another with little friction and spreads the forces of movement and weight‑bearing. In osteoarthritis, this cartilage becomes thinner and can break down. In inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the joint lining becomes inflamed and can damage cartilage and sometimes bone.

As cartilage wears or is damaged:

• Areas of bone under the cartilage can become exposed.
• The joint space narrows.
• Extra bone (osteophytes) may form at the joint edges.
• Swelling and thickening of the joint lining can occur.

People with arthritis in the wrist, forearm joints, or elbow often describe:

• A steady ache in and around the joint.
• Stiffness after rest (especially first thing in the morning) that eases a little as they start to move.
• Pain that increases with tasks that load the joint – such as lifting, twisting, or leaning through the hands.
• Occasional grinding or roughness with certain movements.

During flare‑ups, the joint may feel warmer, more swollen, and more tender.

If joint loading is not adjusted, pain and stiffness may gradually increase. Changes in how the bones sit and move can lead to altered limb alignment and more uneven pressure on particular areas of cartilage, which can speed up wear in those spots.

The main mechanical issues in arthritis are:

• Rougher joint surfaces that do not glide smoothly.
• Less even spreading of load across the joint.
• Soft tissues around the joint (capsule, ligaments, muscles) that become irritable when stretched or jolted.

A brace can help by supporting and guiding joints so they work within a smaller, steadier range – not fully bent or fully straight – especially when you know they will be under more demand.

When you position our long brace along the forearm:

• The rigid splints help guide the wrist and forearm joints through a more predictable arc, which can reduce sudden, sharp changes in joint position that cause jarring.
• Deep wrist flexion or extension can be limited when the brace is worn closer to the wrist, easing pressure on thinned cartilage at the ends of the radius and wrist bones.
• For elbows, placing the brace higher allows you to restrict fully straightening or fully bending the joint if those positions are particularly uncomfortable.

The firm, even compression also supports the soft tissues around the joints, which can produce a feeling of stability and help keep mild swelling under control.

In practice, people with arthritis often reserve our brace for:

• Activities that they know tend to trigger pain, such as lifting heavier items, doing DIY, gardening, or certain work tasks.
• Periods when symptoms flare and the joint feels more tender and unstable.
• Longer days when they expect to be using the arms more than usual.

Using our brace for the tasks you know tend to bring on your joint pain can reduce sharp spikes of discomfort, make key activities more manageable, and help protect arthritic joints from unnecessary strain while you follow the wider plan agreed with your doctor or physiotherapist.

Arthritis is usually managed with:

• Medication, where appropriate, to control pain and inflammation.
• Exercises to maintain or improve range of motion and muscle strength.
• Attention to general health and body weight to reduce joint strain.
• Occasionally injections or surgery, depending on the type and severity.

Our brace cannot reverse arthritis or replace those treatments. Its role is to change how forces pass through the joint during certain tasks and flare‑ups, complementing the other parts of your care. If you notice new redness, warmth, or fever, or sudden changes in joint shape or function, you should seek medical advice promptly, as these may point to an acute flare or another problem that needs looking at.

Repetitive Forearm Strain From Sport, Work Or Daily Tasks

If your forearm tends to feel fine at the start of a week or training block, then tight, tired, or achy after several days of similar tasks, and then improves again after a quieter period, that often reflects repetitive strain – a build‑up of small stresses rather than one big tear.

Rather than there being one clear injury, the problem here is that the muscles and tendons of the forearm are repeatedly being asked to work a bit more, or a bit longer, than they can comfortably recover from.

The main tissues involved are:

• The flexor and pronator muscles and tendons on the front and inner side of the forearm, which bend the wrist and fingers and turn the forearm inwards.
• The extensor and supinator muscles and tendons on the back and outer side, which lift the wrist and fingers and help turn the forearm outwards.

These muscle–tendon units are active during most gripping, turning, and stabilising tasks. If you allow enough lighter days or breaks, small amounts of tissue stress are repaired and the system adapts. If you do not, small areas of irritation build up instead.

This sort of strain is common in people whose week includes:

• Sports that demand frequent or prolonged gripping, such as tennis or squash, or using weights where you hold a bar or handle for multiple sets.
• Jobs that involve many hours at a keyboard and mouse or repeated use of hand tools.
• Hobbies that require concentrated hand use over long sessions, such as some DIY or instrument playing.

You may notice a dull ache or tight feeling in the forearm towards the end of busy days, a sense that the arm tires sooner than it used to, and symptoms that tend to ease during weekends or holidays only to return once you resume the same level of activity.

When you consistently ask your forearm to do more than it can comfortably handle, and do not allow enough time or variation for recovery, the muscles and tendons:

• Do not fully repair between bouts.
• Become more easily irritated by loads that once felt easy.
• May begin to show small areas of structural change similar to those seen in tendonitis.

If nothing changes, this can shift from an occasional annoyance to a regular, earlier‑onset pain or tightness, and may eventually make you cut back on work, sport, or hobbies.

The underlying issue here is not simply “doing a lot”, but how that work is spread and the positions your wrist and forearm are in while you do it. Our brace cannot change your schedule, but it can influence the positions and ranges of movement used for the hardest parts of your day.

If you wear our long forearm brace centred on the forearm, or a little closer to the wrist:

• The splints make it harder for the wrist to repeatedly drop into deep flexion or extension when you are distracted or tired, and they reduce the amount of twist in each movement. That keeps the wrist closer to a more joint‑friendly in‑between angle while you are gripping or turning.
• Supporting the forearm muscles means they work through a slightly smaller movement range on each repetition, reducing the highest pull on their tendons where they attach near the wrist and elbow.
• The compression gives a steadier feel and prompts you to be more aware of how your wrist and forearm are positioned, which can help you avoid drifting into awkward postures when you are busy.

For you, that may mean that by the end of a heavy day at work or a harder training session, the forearm feels less tight and less sore than it would without the brace. It does not remove all stress, but it helps you avoid some of the positions that usually make symptoms worse.

Repetitive forearm strain is best improved by:

• Adjusting how much and how often you do the tasks that drive your symptoms.
• Looking at technique, posture, and equipment in your sport or at work.
• Following a strengthening and conditioning plan for the forearm muscles and tendons.

Our brace does not replace that broader plan. Its value is in making the busiest, most demanding parts of your day – where you know your arm is usually working hardest – more manageable while you put those changes into place and gradually build up your capacity. If your symptoms have been present for several weeks or more, are clearly limiting what you can do, or you are not sure whether it is simply overuse or something more specific, it is wise to have it assessed by a GP or physiotherapist.

Post‑Cast And Post‑Operative Support

When a cast or rigid splint is removed after a fracture or operation, it is very common to feel a mix of relief and anxiety. The arm may look thinner, feel stiff and weak, and you may be understandably worried about knocking it or “undoing” the repair.

After weeks in a cast or rigid splint around the forearm, wrist, or elbow:

• The bone at the injury or surgical site is healing and remodelling, but it is not yet as strong as it will eventually be.
• Muscles, tendons, and ligaments that have not moved much are weaker and less flexible.
• Joints are often stiff and can feel sore when first moved.

Keeping the wrist, forearm, and elbow held rigid at this stage is not helpful; joints can stiffen further and muscles can waste more. On the other hand, jumping straight into full, unprotected use can overload healing tissues. That is why clinicians usually plan a gradual, or graded, return to movement and function – starting with small, gentle movements in safe directions, then slowly building up how far and how strongly you move, and adding more demanding tasks in stages.

In this phase you may notice:

• Stiffness and discomfort when first trying to bend or straighten the wrist, forearm, or elbow.
• Forearm muscles tiring quickly with tasks that used to be easy.
• Worry about catching the arm, being knocked, or doing something that might damage what has just healed.

A functional brace is often a useful step between a rigid cast and no support.

Our NuovaHealth forearm brace is designed for exactly that role. Because it is long enough to cover most of the forearm and has rigid splints on both sides, it can be positioned to support and limit movement in the area that still needs protection, while allowing some motion to return.

For example:

• After a wrist or lower forearm problem, you can place the brace so it includes the lower forearm and wrist. The splints then help stop you bending the wrist fully forwards or backwards, which could otherwise stress healing bones, ligaments, or repairs, but still let you move gently within a safer, in‑between range.
• After a mid‑forearm fracture or soft‑tissue injury, centring the brace on the forearm supports the radius and ulna and reduces twisting and bending through the healing zone, while allowing the elbow and wrist to move more freely.
• After some elbow‑region surgeries or injuries, wearing the brace higher so it covers the upper forearm and part of the lower upper arm, or even spans the elbow if your clinician recommends it, can limit how far and how quickly you bend and straighten the elbow and rotate the forearm.

In each case, the adjustable straps and firm compression help keep the brace in place and provide a steady, supported feeling around the area. Many people find this makes them more confident using the arm for early daily tasks – such as washing, dressing, simple food preparation, or light housework – and more willing to start their prescribed exercises.

Our brace does not mean you can skip your rehab plan or rush back to heavy work or sport. It is there to:

• Reduce the sharpness of movements that would otherwise feel too risky.
• Allow you to practise and build up movement and strength in a controlled way.
• Reduce the chance of sudden, large, uncontrolled motions through the healing area.

Your surgeon or physiotherapist is best placed to say:

• When it is safe to move from a rigid cast or splint into this kind of functional brace.
• Where along the arm the brace should sit for your particular injury or operation.
• How long to use the brace and how to reduce its use as strength and control improve.

If, while using our brace in this phase, you notice increasing pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or major loss of movement, or you feel generally unwell, you should seek medical advice promptly, as these may indicate a complication that needs attention.