cramping hands

[tigerb8]

Does anyone else experience cramping in the palms when doing concentrated bicep curls? I was doing GS Back, Shoulders & Biceps yesterday and during the concentrated bicep dumbbell curls my right palm cramped up and I had to quit. I was making a conscious effort not to squeeze the dumbbell but rather let the bicep muscle pull the weight up. Don't know if I was squeezing or if all of a sudden my usual weight was too heavy. Has anyone else experienced hand cramping in upper body work?

Thanks!
Tracy

 

[jtlane25]

I have not had hand cramping. But, there are some suggestions I can give. You may be having an angle at your wrist that is leading to strained tendons in your hands. Make sure you keep your wrist straight when you do the bicep curl....don't roll with your hand at all. Your hand and wrist should be completely in line with your forearm. Does that make since? I hope that helps......

 

[Pedmom]

Are you using dumb bells or a barbell? I used to use dumb bells for all of my upper body work, and would get terrible hand cramps when using heavier weights-10lbs and up. I have bells from Walmart-those cheap blue ones. They are nice, but the part you hold is just too big. Since I started using a barbell instead, with a thin bar, I haven't had any pain. That might be it for you as well.

 

[Maximus]

I have this problem w/some exercises--mostly back & traps. The problem typically is that the muscle you're working is stronger than the muscles in your hands. You can try lifting straps, they've worked for me.

 

[Elaine Keller]

That happens to me when I do the chest work in PUB.

Laura, what are lifting straps?

 

[Maximus]

Here's a link:

http://www.bigfitness.com/clasneoppad.html

Basically you wrap the strap around the weight so it takes the pressure off your hands.

 

[Elaine Keller]

OK. How do you use them? I'm looking at them on the website but can't imagine how I would attach them to my dumbells and do flys and presses.

 

[Maximus]

You attach the loop around each wrist with the strap hanging down, then wrap the strap around the dumbell or barbell.

That said, it probably would not work for flies & presses. Straps are really for exercises in which your pulling rather than pushing. It might work for concentration curls, it definitely works for things like shrugs, lat work, etc.