How can I strengthen my wrist so i can climb the ladder in the swimming pool ?

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Hi, I broke my wrist in December and have a pin and plate repair. Also a knee replacement a week before. I am back to gym classes, walking the hills and mountains where I live and have started gently doing Pilates and yoga on a very cushioned floor. I want to get back to aquarobics but not sure I could pull myself up the ladder to get out. Before I broke my wrist I relied on my arm strength to pull me up. My legs should be stronger now but I need to strengthen my wrist. The pool has chair lifts but I want to be able to get in and put normally. I use dumbbells, I take my own to class but use heavier ones when I can. TIA

This will sound really boring but perhaps you need more time. I broke my wrist pin/ plate and tbh it took a good year for it to fully recover. Not just the broken bones but all the surrounding soft tissue damage.

What exercises did your physio give you? Do those! Or book a private physio appointment and get advice from a professional.

Asking on here could mean you get advice that isn't right for you and could damage your wrist.

Speak to a physio.

There are specific exercises you can do to strengthen the wrist.

Thank you all. The physios around here specialise with sports injuries and back pain so I wouldn't know who to contact. I know an excellent osteopath though and will contact her. The NHS physio said my wrist was really good and I was 'almost there' with wrist mobility. I did the exercises on the leaflet they gave me which said my wrist would be completely healed at 3 months, that's over 5 months ago. I am very lucky I know, I haven't had any problems but I am carefully going back to my normal fitness classes. I just don't know if I can get out of the swimming pool.( And the council are closing it in August so not sure I'd go to another pool). I think I'll keep strengthening my legs so they'll push me up and hopefully my wrists will hold and I won't fall off. Thanks again.

Can you hook your forearm round the ladder handrail and lock your elbow, rather than using your hand and wrist?

It really is just time. I did the same thing.
Physio helped massively but the last thing that really frustrated me was not being able to get out the pool - I mean at the side though rather than the ladder. I wasn't able to brace to exit from side so had to use ladder one handed. I don't quite I understand why you need 2 hands to get started on the ladder? I guess it must be higher out the water than the ones I use. So yeah, it's just time, it does go back to normal. I decided to have the plate removed a year later and can barely tell it ever happened other than the scar. I have full range and only extremely occasionally get a twinge.

Depending where you live are there other pools you could try, eg one with steps rather than a ladder?
I know it’s not answering your initial question but could solve the problem for now at least,

Can you ask a lifeguard to help you by holding your upper arms?

Good ideas here. I think I'll need to rely on my arms. There is a chair lift but I'd only use that if I really couldn't get out. Ive checked and all the full size pools have ladder access including a brand new 'state of the art' leisure centre. The learner pool has steps and a hand rail and I've used that for hydrotherapy sessions but it's small and crowded and boring. I miss the aquarobics in the large pool - and the people I used to chat with.

There are loads and loads of things you can do for wrist strengthening with just a theraband knotted to make a loop of correct length.

I am not here to give you physio advice because thats what a physio is for. But a decent physio can give you a list of exercises with the above item that will have your wrist strength back in no time.

How do i know this......my daughter climbs and wrist strength is a huge part of it

This video has quite a lot of the exercises i have witnessed from our own physios