About

 

The WristWidget® was invented in 2006 by Wendy Medeiros, OTR, CHT (retired 2015) in her hand clinic in Hawaii.  It is a direct response to a patient who refused surgery for ulna sided wrist pain due to a TFCC or Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex injury.  Wendy has been treating hands as an Occupational Therapist since 1993.  Her experience gives her great insight into this injury. 

Originally all were hand sewn one by one by Wendy alone, now each is made by Wendy and her family in Hawaii with the best materials available.  The materials come from 5 countries and are designed to provide the perfect non-elastic support.  

To reduce our carbon footprint, the WristWidget features lightweight and environmentally friendly packaging.  Created in a zero-waste company, our manufacturing runs on 100% solar and wind energy in Hawaii.

The WristWidget® is sold on every continent, in 152 countries, and we have distributed over 1 million to date. Over the years, Wendy has created an effective protocol for treating the TFCC.  Wendy is heavily involved in research around the globe and has collected data on over 45000 TFCC cases.   This injury is poorly understood but we know that it can heal properly without surgery.

It is Wendy's hope that everyone diagnosed with a TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) tear can find a place where they can learn, heal, and share their experiences.  

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello!!!  My name's Wendy and I am the inventor and patent holder of the WristWidget®, a solution for those with tears of the Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex.

I am an Occupational Therapist with a specialty in hands or CHT- Certified Hand Therapist. My fascination with the hands started at a young age when I became intrigued with the incredible dexterity that allowed me to play the piano, repair engines, write and function so well. It led me down the path of medicine at Chaminade University and then obtain a Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1993. My work at Shriners Hospital in Hawaii led me to meet the hand therapist who demonstrated the incredible ability to mold and form materials for the hands of children. My passion excelled at Stanford University Hospital and Clinics where I received the most incredible exposure to all areas of medicine. 

I opened my private prractice in Redwood City, California upon the birth of my second child. Then returned to my hometown to open 3 clinics in Honolulu, Kailua, and Queens. It was here that I invented the WristWidget®.  Now the WristWidget® has expanded to all continents. I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to look at an injury every day, all day. With this has come great knowledge and understanding of an important dynamic of the human wrist.

My work now is entirely manufacturing, distribution and research. My hope is to influence the way we understand the TFCC and its incredible capacity to heal. With time and research, the work of the many who have shared their stories and experiences will be published. Hopefully soon, a patient with ulnar-sided wrist pain can receive an early and non-invasive diagnosis and an effective treatment.

Warmest Aloha to all of the mentors, teachers, patients, clinicians, friends and family who have guided me along this path.

Wendy