Hand Care in CrossFit
Want strong…but beautiful hands?
~ Sophie White
Ripped hands, blood pouring from open calluses… we’ve all been there right. But what causes it to happen? and how do you prevent it from happening again?
Soft, inexperienced hands… yes we’re still talking about CrossFit. Calluses are needed to protect the hands from ripping, so jumping on the rig on your first day with little experience will probably leave those hands sore, a little ripped, and have you adding an extra day until you next wash your hair.
On the other hand, too much callus build-up will also cause rips. When calluses build up over time from lifting and gymnastic work, it can cause a ‘cliff’ or rough edge which is more susceptible to catching and ripping.
If you’re unlucky to rip your hands in the middle of a workout, don’t carry on using the equipment that caused the rip in the first place. This will make it much worse and prolong the recovery time. Wash your hands with warm soapy water and cut back any excess skin so it doesn’t catch and further aggravate the wound. Stay on top of moisturizing, as dry cracking skin can cause the rip to re-open.
In palm of your hand!
To prevent calluses from ripping in the future, staying on top of filling them down and moisturizing them once a day should do the trick. Furthermore, gymnastic grips and taping also prevent ripped hands during exercise. With all the gymnastic grips online; it's difficult to know which one to go for right?! I personally recommend the Reyllen grips. They’re great on both powder-coated and galvanized rigs, and if you go for the biggest size which is XL, you’ll get a great grip around the rig, taking the emphasis away from your grip and more through the gymnastic grip.
It’s a simple daily action to add to your self-care routine and one that can keep you on the rig or lifting a barbell for longer. So invest now, and reap the benefits later down the line.
