I like to train with my wrists bandaged. Is it good or bad?

Over a month ago (when I started at Crossfit) I suffered an injury due to a poor technique holding the olympic bar in the front squat, which generated a heavy recharge on my wrists. As expected, my body ended up resenting it.

This injury is commonly known as "open wrist", but the correct name is wrist sprain... And yes, sprains do not only happen on ankles!!

Well with physical therapy, correction of technique and use of bandage during my workouts, I was able to recover in just ONE week, BUT I had a big question that I had to clarify from two perspectives with my team from GoMind and Kinemed.

In all this time of practicing Crossfit I have noticed that lots of people who exercise with Olympic bars (not only in Crossfit but also in conventional gyms) tend to wear wrist bandage ALWAYS. That’s why I want to share this criterion so that you can figure out if you are doing yourself a favor or hurting yourself greatly.

First of all I must clarify that wearing a bandage is NOT BAD. So, it cannot be demonized as many coaches are used to do it. Bandaging is an effective method to limit excessive wrist movement and provide stability.

The big problem lies in those who wrap their wrists for training and do not worry at all about implementing exercise routines to strengthen that part of the body.

Let me explain this: If I always lift using that "extra help" and don’t care about doing wrist-focused exercise routines, I would not be strengthening ligaments and soft structures that go according to the working capacity of other muscle groups. That said, it is highly probable to injure myself when putting load without wearing wrist bandage. In other words, I am creating weak spots in my body.

In my opinion, the bandage should be used:

1. When I am going to lift new (heavier) weights as prevention

2. When I have an injury that requires the use of it

On the other hand, some super IMPORTANT points that should be clear are:

1. When the wrist pain appears, the solution is NOT to wrap them. Visit the physiotherapist to treat the injury and follow the professional advice.

2. If you love wearing wrist bandage because it is fashion and nobody will ever change your mind, then it is MANDATORY to complement with mobility routines, stretching and myofascial release in order to strengthen the wrists and at the end, prevent those annoying injuries.

3. Always remember that it is ESSENTIAL to perform mobility exercises before the workout routines in order to prepare joints and muscles for the physical activity.

Gladiators, do not wait for the pain to appear and act out, prevention is the key to keep us in constant motion.

#english