Wrist pain when doing pushups, is it just me?

lauraspberry
lauraspberry Posts: 655 Member
edited February 7 in Fitness and Exercise
I always get wrist pain. i make sure my body is aligned properly, my hands and shoulders are aligned, etc. I have small wrists, I'm not overweight though. My BMI is 21. Am I too heavy for my wrists?

Replies

  • erinxo13
    erinxo13 Posts: 892 Member
    I'm curious to see what people say about this. I have the same problem, and I believe it is improper form but I'm not sure how to remedy that. I have bad wrists to begin with and I understand my weight should be distributed...but I have no idea how to do that... I hope someone replies that can help us with this... I'm pretty sure its the way we are doing it....even though you're saying you're aligned.
  • hararayne
    hararayne Posts: 261 Member
    Have you ever tried putting the weight on your knuckles? this straightens your wrists. Make a fist and put your hand on the floor as if you were punching the floor. (Don't actually punch the floor!) But your wrist should look like your are.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    It could be related to poor flexibility in the wrists. Add in some wrist stretches to your regime.

    In the meantime, you could try using push-up handles which allow you to push-up with straighter wrists.
  • lauraspberry
    lauraspberry Posts: 655 Member
    Have you ever tried putting the weight on your knuckles? this straightens your wrists. Make a fist and put your hand on the floor as if you were punching the floor. (Don't actually punch the floor!) But your wrist should look like your are.


    I get shaky when I try pushing up with my knuckles :( I tried

    It could be related to poor flexibility in the wrists. Add in some wrist stretches to your regime.

    In the meantime, you could try using push-up handles which allow you to push-up with straighter wrists.

    I tried push up handles but wrists still hurt, i havent tried doing wrist stretches though... I will try that :D THANKS <3
  • bookworm_847
    bookworm_847 Posts: 1,903 Member
    I have this issue as well. Thanks for the above suggestions. I'll have to give them a try!
  • hararayne
    hararayne Posts: 261 Member
    Typically I get shaky during an exercise because I'm not very strong in that exercise. You may need to decrease your reps and make sure you are doing the exercise correctly and SLOWLY. Slow good form is always better than fast, tons of repetitions, bad form.

    Not that I'm saying you are having bad form. I don't know since I can't see you doing it. I just know that I personally get shaky doing exercises that I am not good at doing because I haven't built sufficient strength to do them well. I shake doing the plank. I shake holding some yoga poses. Shaking is normal from what I can tell watching others workout in classes. Just don't hurt yourself. Go at your own pace. Those people doing exercise videos that don't seem to shake at all? That's because they have worked forever to get their muscles to a point where they don't shake.

    I think the most important thing is that you don't injure yourself. I'd suggest talking to a trainer, having someone look at your form if at all possible. I actually shelled out money for a trainer to learn the correct way to do things. Regardless of what I read, it took someone watching me for me to find out I didn't keep a straight back doing pushups. I tended to slouch doing reps on the machines, and I did the reps too fast. You may benefit from this if gaining strenght is important to you.
  • lauraspberry
    lauraspberry Posts: 655 Member
    Typically I get shaky during an exercise because I'm not very strong in that exercise. You may need to decrease your reps and make sure you are doing the exercise correctly and SLOWLY. Slow good form is always better than fast, tons of repetitions, bad form.

    Not that I'm saying you are having bad form. I don't know since I can't see you doing it. I just know that I personally get shaky doing exercises that I am not good at doing because I haven't built sufficient strength to do them well. I shake doing the plank. I shake holding some yoga poses. Shaking is normal from what I can tell watching others workout in classes. Just don't hurt yourself. Go at your own pace. Those people doing exercise videos that don't seem to shake at all? That's because they have worked forever to get their muscles to a point where they don't shake.

    I think the most important thing is that you don't injure yourself. I'd suggest talking to a trainer, having someone look at your form if at all possible. I actually shelled out money for a trainer to learn the correct way to do things. Regardless of what I read, it took someone watching me for me to find out I didn't keep a straight back doing pushups. I tended to slouch doing reps on the machines, and I did the reps too fast. You may benefit from this if gaining strenght is important to you.

    You know what's weird? I can hold planks for as long as a minute and my wrist wont hurt, may be you're right I might have been doing the pushups too fast that I neglect my form... :( I should observe myself more :flowerforyou:
  • hararayne
    hararayne Posts: 261 Member
    Aw, thanks for the flower!:bigsmile:
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    I sometimes use these things called yoga jellies to elevate part of my hand near my wrist and take the pressure off. However, they are really expensive: $65. The biggest issue I have is a nagging injury and a total lack of flexibility in wrist extension positions.
  • drop_it_like_a_squat
    drop_it_like_a_squat Posts: 377 Member
    Have you ever tried putting the weight on your knuckles? this straightens your wrists. Make a fist and put your hand on the floor as if you were punching the floor. (Don't actually punch the floor!) But your wrist should look like your are.


    I get shaky when I try pushing up with my knuckles :( I tried

    Practise. I have a bible cyst in my right wrist and the only way I can do push ups is to do it on my knuckles. You'll get used to it and if it actually helps with your wrist pain you should put some effort into practising it.
  • cingle87
    cingle87 Posts: 717 Member
    It could like a previous posted stated it could be from weak wrist muscles, in my youth I managed to break both wrist so as I grew the bones are slightly abnormal so often I was get a little pain in the places wear I broke them. Best thing to do is strengthen the muscle around the wrist, most resistance training will stress the wrist muscles, however throw in a few wrist curls and it should sort out the issues.
  • lauraspberry
    lauraspberry Posts: 655 Member
    Have you ever tried putting the weight on your knuckles? this straightens your wrists. Make a fist and put your hand on the floor as if you were punching the floor. (Don't actually punch the floor!) But your wrist should look like your are.


    I get shaky when I try pushing up with my knuckles :( I tried

    Practise. I have a bible cyst in my right wrist and the only way I can do push ups is to do it on my knuckles. You'll get used to it and if it actually helps with your wrist pain you should put some effort into practising it.

    Okay I will try that thank you :flowerforyou:
  • lauraspberry
    lauraspberry Posts: 655 Member
    It could like a previous posted stated it could be from weak wrist muscles, in my youth I managed to break both wrist so as I grew the bones are slightly abnormal so often I was get a little pain in the places wear I broke them. Best thing to do is strengthen the muscle around the wrist, most resistance training will stress the wrist muscles, however throw in a few wrist curls and it should sort out the issues.

    That really makes sense thank you for that I'll look into exercises for the wrist :):flowerforyou:
  • lauraspberry
    lauraspberry Posts: 655 Member
    Aw, thanks for the flower!:bigsmile:

    You're welcome :D
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