Prevalence of Dorsal Wrist Impingement Syndrome with Scaphoid Instability among Gym Goers

Background: Gym goers are at increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders due to poor posture, repetitive hand movements, extended workout duration, and inadequate ergonomics. The dorsal wrist impingement syndrome is associated with wrist hyperextension and scaphoid bone instability. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of dorsal wrist impingement syndrome with scaphoid instability among gym goers. Methodology: This observational study was conducted over six months following synopsis approval from the University of Lahore, targeting gym goers in Sargodha city, with 147 participants recruited using a non-probability purposive sampling technique. Participants aged 16 to 45 years, both genders, experiencing wrist pain or difficulty in wrist hyperextension were included, while those with wrist fractures, dislocations, neurological problems, recent trauma, or deformities were excluded. Data collection involved standardized diagnostic tools, including the scaphoid shift test to assess scaphoid instability, the finger extension test to confirm dorsal wrist impingement syndrome, the numerical pain rating scale to measure pain intensity, and the patient-rated wrist evaluation questionnaire to evaluate wrist function and disability. Spearman’s rank correlation test was applied to examine relationships between variables, and results were expressed using percentages and frequencies for quantitative variables. Results: Out of 147 participants, 75 male participants had more right-handed wrist pain than 72 female participants. The age range of participants was between 16 and 45 years, and the highest frequency was between the ages of 31 and 35 years. 94 participants had positive results for the scaphoid shift test, while 53 participants had negative results. In the ratio of the finger extension test, 111 participants had positive results, and 36 participants had negative results. Conclusion: This study concludes that dorsal wrist impingement syndrome with scaphoid instability is indeed prevalent among gymgoers. This condition is closely linked to wrist hyperextension during heavy lifting, making it a prominent risk factor. Additionally, the research suggests that right-handed individuals are more prone to experiencing wrist pain in comparison to their left hand.