Slip And Duck: The Chances Of Suffering From A Boxer's Fracture
Boxers need their hands to be in perfect condition and free of injury in order to fight effectively. Competitive boxers know they cannot put their fingers, joints, and wrists at a high chance of injury. People who take up boxing as a hobby might not realize that punching creates a risk for a boxer's fracture—an injury to the metacarpal bones in the hand. Employing wise preventive steps reduces the chances of a boxer's fracture, and properly responding to an injury keeps it from getting worse.
Double-Check Striking Surfaces
Astute hobbyists know they cannot properly protect their hands with low-quality wrist wraps and gloves. Investing in good hand protection equipment is important. Do not, however, assume that they can handle any and all targets. Bags, Thai pads, and focus mitts do have to be broken in a bit, so as not to provide too hard of a surface to strike. Always make sure any equipment used as a target to hit is properly broken in before punching away. Anyone who does not know how to evaluate the safety level should ask a trainer for his/her opinion.
Properly Clean Gloves and Wraps
Washing leather gloves with soap and water and not drying the material properly is a great way to cause cracks. Throwing wrist wrappings into a washing machine as opposed to soaking them in a container of water is a bad plan. The material ends up constricting and wrapping poorly. As a result, the safety and impact-protection benefits to the equipment ends up being compromised. Only clean gloves, wraps, and other safety items in the correct, recommended manner. Otherwise, the risks of a boxer's fracture increase.
Improve Dietary Intake
Protective equipment can only do so much. Diet counts for a lot. The bones in the hand are going to be at greater risk due to nutritional deficiencies. In particular, a lack of calcium definitely increases a risk of a boxer's fracture. Dairy is a good source of calcium, but dairy is not always recommended for those who want to maximize cardio conditioning. People who drink milk before a workout may get an upset stomach, which can cause distractions while boxing. Distractions can lead to injuries to the hand and more. Get pre-workout calcium—and regular weekly calcium intake—from fruits and vegetables. This way, stamina is not hampered and injury risks are not increased.
Last, those who do notice pain or problems in the hand should see a doctor who specializes in sports medicine at a location such as Tedder Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center. Training on an unnoticed injury is only going to make a hand injury worse.
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