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weak wrists

_SABOTEUR_
_SABOTEUR_ Posts: 6,833 Member
edited January 4 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi

I've been weight training for a while and now the weights are getting heavier and heavier my wrists get sore halfway through a workout. Sometimes it feels like I could do a few more reps but my wrists won't take it.

Are there any exercises to strengthen your wrists (no crude comments pls! :P) or is it better to just invest in a pair of gloves with wrist supports. Which training gloves are the best?

Thanks for the advice.

Replies

  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    The problem is that muscles strengthen a lot more quickly than the bits in between. I come from a climbing background where joint, tendon and ligament injuries are common as you climb harder and harder routes. The only real way is to let the body catch up. What I would do is try to go to perhaps a third of the way through your routine and then use the supports. If you wear them from the outset, then the wrists will not strengthen.
  • geeniusatwurk
    geeniusatwurk Posts: 68 Member
    I had this problem once I got to a certain weight on my deadlifts. There are several options available: hold the weight increases while your wrists adjust (less than ideal if you want to capitalize on noob gains), use chalk (not allowed in all gyms), switch your grip (hook grip, alternate grip on DL, etc), or wear gloves or straps. I went with alternating my grips and using straps on the days I am near my 1 rep max. If you go straight for gloves/straps then your wrists just won't develop and you'll be forced to use them forever.

    I also added a Captains of Crush grip trainer (level 1 I think), and that really improved my wrist strength. Going to rock climbing walls was a fun way to mix it up every few weeks.
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Static hang from a pull-up bar
  • drgndancer
    drgndancer Posts: 426 Member
    The problem is that muscles strengthen a lot more quickly than the bits in between. I come from a climbing background where joint, tendon and ligament injuries are common as you climb harder and harder routes. The only real way is to let the body catch up. What I would do is try to go to perhaps a third of the way through your routine and then use the supports. If you wear them from the outset, then the wrists will not strengthen.

    This seems like the best idea to me. The problem with artificial supports is that whatever they support doesn't get stronger. This should be a reasonable balance of competing interests.
This discussion has been closed.

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