Hands Ache While Lifting Weights

kathy123

kathy123

Member
Cathe: I absolutely LOVE your workouts!!!!! When lifting either dumbbells or barbell I find that my hands/palms ache and that I am sometimes unable to finish with reps. Is there anything you recommend to strenghten my hands or use to alleviate the aching?

Thanks,
Kathy
 
Kathy, I also have the problem with my hands aching during weight lifting...I have tried to loosen my grip a bit (sometimes I feel like I'm holding the weights too tight!) but although this helps, I still have some ache...So I will be interested as to any response you get. Just wanted to let you know you're not the only one!


Debra

Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it---Ella Williams
 
My left hand aches when I'm doing chest work. I finally figured out why, but this probably won't help you: I injured the palm of my hand several years ago - sliced DEEP into the muscle in the fleshy part of the palm at the base of the thumb. That's exactly where my hand aches, and it's only the hand that was injured - my right hand never aches at all.

So, unless you've ever had hand injuries, this might not be the same problem you're having.
 
If you're not using lifting gloves I suggest getting a pair. However, despite wearing gloves I still had a problem with achy hands when I first started heavy lifting. The cold dumbbells didn't help! The only thing that worked for me was to continue lifting. Eventually my hands got used to it and I could tolerate lifting heavier weights and holding them in my hands for longer periods of time.

Maybe Cathe will chime in!
 
Debra - thanks for your reply! Its good to know I'm not alone. I don't think I'm holding too tight, it is more or less an ache in my palms which happens way before the muscle I'm working fatigues. So if I'm doing bicep curls, my hands start aching early on, resulting in me not getting to work my bicep as long as I would like to.

Regards,
Kathy
 
I do use lifting gloves which helps me to keep my wrists straight. So they help somewhat. But my hands still gets crampy and achy. Perhaps your advice to continue to lift will improve them.

Thanks!
Kathy
 
Kathy,
Mine happens mostly with chest work (flys and bench presses)but I get them sometimes with biceps too. Hopefully we'll hear from Cathe and any advice she has!!

Take care!
Debra

Bite off more than you can chew. Then chew it---Ella Williams
 
I definitely suggest using good weight lifting gloves. I find that helps me a lot. And I've had to replace them quite a bit, but the money is well spent.

As an aside, I don't have hand ache from lifting weights, but I do have very sore hands- so much I can't complete the exercise- when we do those triceps dips holding onto 5 lb weights in BM2. Has anyone else noticed that? I can't seem to finish them with good form because my hands hurt too much, even with gloves on. I've had the same problems with some of Mindy Mylrea's workouts when she uses weights to do bridges. I even went out and bought softer, vinyl-like 3lb dumbbells, to no avail. :(
 
>Cathe: I absolutely LOVE your workouts!!!!! When lifting
>either dumbbells or barbell I find that my hands/palms ache
>and that I am sometimes unable to finish with reps. Is there
>anything you recommend to strenghten my hands or use to
>alleviate the aching?
>
>Thanks,
>Kathy
i get that also sometimes but i dont know how to get rid of it!!!
 
I have the same problem, especially with shoulder raises. My hands totally cramp up. Good lifting gloves can help. There are also some strength training devices for hands:

http://www.karatedepot.com/tr-ex-05.html

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/72...ngthener&OVMTC=Broad&site=&creative=707247681

http://www.rei.com/product/1136.htm

http://www.e-bogu.com/Hand_Strengthener_p/ind-tra--lh-13--.htm

I've always been leery of this stuff though b/c my hands are already beat up & calloused. This always reminds me of the Seinfeld epi where Jerry broke up w/a woman b/c she had "man hands." I don't want "man hands!" :+
 
LauraMax,

Thanks for the links!!! I am definitely going to give them a try.

I hear you about the "man hands". Definitely don't want that!!! :)

Thanks,
Kathy
 
>I definitely suggest using good weight lifting gloves. I
>find that helps me a lot. And I've had to replace them quite
>a bit, but the money is well spent.
>

Biking gloves can also work, and some have gel padding, which might be helpful.
 
I was told by a trainer it is all grip strength.....get one of those little things with black handles and metal in the middle and squeeze a LOT and you can use a small ball and squeeze a LOT - building your grip and that will alleviate the pain in the hands.
 
i use a rubber band instead of dumbells when my wrists are achy. excersizes like upright rows. if pushups bother your wrist by a push up bar or dumbells.

laura
 
Wow! This is the same question I asked a couple of days ago! (Nov.25th or so...Guess I should have researched a little harder.) It's good to know I'm not the only one who's hands ache during lifting!!

ps. Pushup bars do help a lot...my wrists hurt too much without them.
 
I just had someone tell me last week that you should grip more on the pinky end of the hand then the index finger end. Of course you shouldn't grip too tight, but tighter on the pinky side of your hand. I tried this with the s&h chest exercises (this is when I often had to stop in the middle of sets my hands would hurt so bad) and it totally helped.
Don't know if it will help anyone else, but it's worth a try.
--Laura
 
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