Does it happen to all crossfitters?
melmckay99
Posts: 358
I tore my hand up pretty bad last night doing kips...well trying to do kips. I'm still pretty newbite and can only do about 5 in a row, but I did 6 sets of 5 + deadlifts + stationary rowing... I read the other posts about calluses, how to care for them and how to treat ripped up hands and also about prevention so I'm all up to date on that, thanks for that! I'm a pretty tough girl, so the only thing that upsets me about it is that it's going to interfere with my training for the next week or so until it heals.
Does this happen to all newbie crossfitters? Do you see it as a badge of honour or a rite of passage? For me it is just a pain in the neck (well hands) that is getting in the way of my training. On the other hand, It also motivates me more because it makes me want to try harder next time to improve and perfect my form/technique so that this doesn't happen to me again.
Once I get the technique down and build up some good smooth calluses, can I count on this kind of thing NOT happening again?Do seasoned pros still have these hand mishaps? And what do you do about your training when you are waiting for it to heal?
Does this happen to all newbie crossfitters? Do you see it as a badge of honour or a rite of passage? For me it is just a pain in the neck (well hands) that is getting in the way of my training. On the other hand, It also motivates me more because it makes me want to try harder next time to improve and perfect my form/technique so that this doesn't happen to me again.
Once I get the technique down and build up some good smooth calluses, can I count on this kind of thing NOT happening again?Do seasoned pros still have these hand mishaps? And what do you do about your training when you are waiting for it to heal?
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I think it is more of a pain in the *kitten* than anything. I luckily have not had that issue, but I have been pretty obsessive about filing my calluses down and using lotion. I have come close to them pulling, but after that I have paid extra attention to my hands. I do not want that set back and that is what it is. If I throw my back out because I worked so hard, I don't see it as a badge of honor. It does show you work hard, but I don't buy into that. Look up how to tape them, heal up and get back after it. Good luck..0
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Definitely not a badge for me either... I feel more embarassed and frustrated if anything. Embarassed cause I know my technique is not good enough and is the main reason for this injury, and frustrated cause I won't be able to train hard for at least a week now! Also I am allergic to sports tape...something in the glue reacts badly with my skin causing it to swell up and itch like crazy. Gloves don't seem to do the trick either cause I can't seem to get a good enough grip with them on, or maybe I just haven't found the right pair. I think it will just be a lot of manicures for me
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im a semi newbie (cfing for 4mo) and my hands are ripped to shreds right now!! I can barely use my left hand. The WOD yesterday had 40x, 60x, 20x pull ups. I did them kipping with no band
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540710789313016&l=088d42a8550 -
ouch...thats pretty similar to what my left had looks like too....though I cut off the skin flaps...I know I shouldn't have but they looked gross and were getting dirty. I am hoping that I am able to do a bit of lifting by tomorrow evening... It's gotten a bit better over the course of just one day. I think if I wear gloves I should be good to do a few lifts... I will maybe just work on some leg stuff though if it still hurts too much.0
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Ouch!im a semi newbie (cfing for 4mo) and my hands are ripped to shreds right now!! I can barely use my left hand. The WOD yesterday had 40x, 60x, 20x pull ups. I did them kipping with no band
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=540710789313016&l=088d42a8550 -
get your grip stronger and it will help you not get as ripped up mid hand... too much chalk is as bad as not enough, and wash your hands after your WOD and moisturize.
this article sums it up pretty well... http://www.fitbomb.com/2011/09/crossfit-hand-care.html
the only time i have ever torn is during a 5k row on 3 of my fingers... yowza!0 -
Thanks! That is the same article I found in another post on here. It looks like it will be very helpful!
Gonna work on changing the way I grip too, like you said...closer to the base of my fingers instead of in my palm, and also wrapping my thumb over the bar instead of around the bar cause I have blisters on the insides of each of my thumbs too. On top of everything, I also gashed my middle toe on a rock over the weekend while playing beach volleyball, haha....i'm just not having a good week so far! I have gone through so many bandaids, lol. Def got made fun of a bit too from my BF...oh well. I am healing and will be back soon stronger than before!0 -
I'm a long way from unassisted pullups, but I did find this helpful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSt3g7brI_c 0 -
Does it happen to all crossfitters? No...0
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I just use a gymnastics form of taping my hands when I have rips and still want to do workouts with pullups or TTB. Here is a good video of how to do it, it doesn't make them heal any faster but in my experience it allows me to do the workout withot too much pain or making the rip worse. Here's the video I learned to do it with
http://tridentcrossfitva.com/2011/01/how-to-tape-your-hands/0 -
I'm deff going to have to use that tape trick tomorrow. Today was my rest day so my hands have healed a little, but not enough.0
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I'm allergic to sports tape
I used band-aids and lifting gloves today and was able to get through a workout of thrusters, burpees and pushups. Then just concentrated on some core exercises.0 -
I'm allergic to sports tape
I used band-aids and lifting gloves today and was able to get through a workout of thrusters, burpees and pushups. Then just concentrated on some core exercises.
You might also try the gymnastics hand guards they use for bar routines. Some people at my box use them and it seems you either love them or you use them once and hate them. I used them once and they have been in my bag ever since.
As to your original question, I find that if I'm doing pull-ups or toes to bar with reps that start getting above 30-40, i'm going to get ripped callouses. It gets a little better has your hands toughen up, but almost everyone still gets them on occasion. And yes they do interfere with training for a few days as they heal. It sucks.0 -
Just wanted to post this as an FYI to anyone else new at this who has ripped up hands:
epsom salt and warm water soaks really helped for me! It has now been exactly a week since it happened to me and I'm almost 100% healed!0 -
I use really cheap Gold Gym gloves from Walmart (literally no padding) as it helps me to concentrate on my form and avoid slippery hands as a reason for dropping the bar. I know its not very macho, but if I feel my skin rip it breaks my concentration and gives me an excuse to stop.0
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I have bad callouses too. My coach is ordering the leather hand gaurds that gymnasts use for anyone who wanted them.
A TMI comment so look away if you are bashful...
I told him callouses were not acceptable for my c0ck hand. :flowerforyou:
He's fixing it straight away. LOL0 -
^so you aren't ambidextrous is what you're saying?0
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Buy some gymnastic grips, learn how to care for your calluses and you can reduce the number of tears. Almost every person who does CrossFit will rip their hands at some point. You can also opt out of workouts or scale if your hands are in rough shape. Ripping them to shreds isn't worth not being able to touch a barbell for at least a week.0
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my hands are all callused up too. got my first tear the other day and it sucked majorly.
i saw this floating around fb and bought a pair. we'll see how it goes.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Natural-Grip/303643539769341?ref=ts&fref=ts0 -
No I am not. LOL But there are other forms that get the job done. :happy:0
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Finally have my grips and I love them. I highly recommend!0
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I've changed the way I grip, making it closer to where my fingers meet my palm instead of on the cushions of my palm. This seems to really be helping cause my hands are holding up pretty good! I still get callouses and they get a little tender after I do a WOD with pull-ups, but the extra care and changed grip has made all the difference!0
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Lifting gloves are the worst for bar work... the padding makes the grip weaker and I got worse blisters using lifting gloves.
However, BATTING GLOVES are a different story. I bought a pair of Under Armour Clean Up IV batting gloves ($25) and WOW have they saved my hands. A few CF Games Elites use batting gloves as well.
I'd love to go barehanded, but I have a job that involves my hands too much and having them bandaged up and oozing is not an option. I don't wear the gloves all the time, just for bar work and KB swings.0 -
No I am not. LOL But there are other forms that get the job done. :happy:
Practice makes perfect. And I'm sure your man is a happy camper as well!0 -
Lifting gloves are the worst for bar work... the padding makes the grip weaker and I got worse blisters using lifting gloves.
However, BATTING GLOVES are a different story. I bought a pair of Under Armour Clean Up IV batting gloves ($25) and WOW have they saved my hands. A few CF Games Elites use batting gloves as well.
I'd love to go barehanded, but I have a job that involves my hands too much and having them bandaged up and oozing is not an option. I don't wear the gloves all the time, just for bar work and KB swings.
Haven't worn those since I actually played baseball 20 years ago. Might grab a pair just to have with me. Grip is still my limiting factor on most of my lifts. I have a feeling my forearms are going to be one of the sorest parts of my body the first few months of Crossfit.0 -
No I am not. LOL But there are other forms that get the job done. :happy:
Practice makes perfect. And I'm sure your man is a happy camper as well!
MmmmmHmmm 
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