Do wrist guards have the potential to protect against wrist injuries in bicycling, micro scooter riding, and monkey bar play?

OBJECTIVE To test the potential of wrist guards to prevent wrist injury in recreational activities that require good grip strength and hand dexterity. METHODS Forty eight children aged 5-8 years from one Melbourne school volunteered for tests chosen or devised following a review of the literature on the effects of orthoses use and hand function. RESULTS Wrist guard wearing significantly degraded grip strength, bicycle steering, and performance on a monkey bar. Micro scooter steering was not significantly affected by their use. CONCLUSION Wrist guards designed for skating are not recommended for bicycle riding and playing on climbing apparatus, and their suitability for scooter riding requires further investigation.