I have severe arthritis in my left wrist resulting from an old bicycle injury. When it happened, I didn't realize I completely tore a ligament connecting the metacarpals. After the arthritis set in, I have tried several brands of wrist braces, but they all had a center stay that presses into the palm. When I did outdoor work involving using a shovel or rake, my middle fingers would get numb caused by the stay pressing into the nerve area. Just recently I discovered the Ossur splint which doesn't have the center stay. It bridges the palm and does not press into the nerve area. What a difference! I just finished shoveling and raking 3 cubic yards of garden soil while wearing the Ossur splint and my hand and wrist feel much better than if I had used one of the other brands. I highly recommend this splint if you can't tolerate braces I described with the metal stays.