Hand wraps are commonly used by combat sports athletes in order to reduce the risk of multiple injuries that can occur during training sessions or professional fights.
There are some sports like weightlifting that use hand wraps to reduce hand injuries, but they are primarily used in combat sports like – MMA, Boxing, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai.
The practice of wrapping a strip of cloth around an athlete’s palm for knuckle protection is not a new tradition, in 500 BC, ancient Greek boxers used a leather strap named “Himantes” to shield their knuckles from wrist injuries while increasing their punching power.
In this day and age, hand wraps are available in different colors, shades, and designs giving them unique personalities tailored to the user’s needs.
Hand wraps have become a must-use material in combat sports, but what is the actual use of this piece of equipment?
Let’s dive in and explore this topic further.
What is the purpose of using hand wraps?
The purpose of using hand wraps is to protect the knuckles from potential injuries caused by repeatedly punching an object with a fist.
The fighters classify their fists based on their motions and use their knuckles to make contact with something or someone which completes the process of punching.
The 04 knuckles on our hands are mostly used in boxing, as they constantly make contact with an object and absorb powerful shocks. Repeated bare-knuckle punching can make the knuckle bones prone to multiple injuries and trauma.
So, in order to reduce the risk of injury and extend the career of athletes, hand wraps are extensively used in professional boxing.
What are the most common hand injuries that happen in boxing?
Although, there are many hand injuries that can occur during boxing, I am addressing only 05 here –
Boxer’s fracture.
A boxer fracture is a break in the neck of the pinky finger which is also known as 5th metacarpal bone. This injury is very common among inexperienced boxers who punch without a proper technique.
When a trained boxer throws a punch, their fingers are properly aligned which allows effective transference of the generated force. But, when an amateur boxer throws a punch, the alignment of the fingers might not be proper due to a lack of technique, and when the miss-aligned fist makes contact with something hard, the 5th metacarpal bone (pinky bone) often absorbs most of the force which often leads to fractures.
Boxer’s fracture is the most common injury that happens in both professional and amateur boxers.
Skier’s thumb (Gamekeeper’s thumb).
Skier’s thumb or gamekeeper’s thumb is a name for a UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) tear that happens on the first MCP joint of the thumb. Whenever the thumb is unnaturally stretched backward or sideways, it can lead to this injury.
Just like boxer’s fracture, a skier’s thumb or gatekeeper’s thumb injury can occur during training or an actual fight. While it is not as prevalent as boxer’s fracture, it can certainly happen under some circumstances.
The skier’s thumb is a common injury in various sports where fingers are often extended such as rugby or football. But, in a combat sport like boxing, where the thumb is aligned with the knuckle typically makes this injury less common.
However, rookie boxers sometimes extend their thumb in the moment of contact, which can apply a great force to the thumb resulting in this injury.
Bennett’s fracture.
A Bennett’s fracture is an injury that happens at the base of the thumb resulting in a forced abduction of the first metacarpal bone that connects the wrist to the thumb.
This injury shares similarities with the skier’s thumb because it also involves injury to the thumb. The key difference is that in the case of Bennett’s fracture occurs in the joint that connects the index finger and the thumb meaning both fingers can be affected by this type of injury.
Bennett’s fracture is also very common in high-impact contact sports like rugby, football, and combat sports. Sometimes, athletes do drills, sparring, and other intense physical activities with a broken thumb which increases the likelihood of causing this injury.
Extensor hood injuries.
An Extensor hood injury is a condition that happens when the extensor tendons in the hand and foot are torn or ruptured. The extensor hoods are tissues that control movement in the hand, fingers, and extend from the forearm muscle through the wrist.
Studies claim extensor hood injuries account for 16% of all types of hand injuries sustained by professional boxers. These injuries can involve tear of extensor tissues, damage to the joint capsule or a combination of many factors that are present in the extensor tissues.
This injury can occur both in professional or amateur boxers causing pain and problems with hand functions. This tear can lead to several months of rest due to sports injury.
How do hand wraps help to prevent injuries in boxing?
For such a common practice as hand-wrapping before a fight in martial arts, we have very limited scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness in preventing hand and wrist injuries.
If there is limited scientific evidence, then why do fighters even care about wrapping their hands before a fight? Here, the purpose of wrapping the hands is a more practical and theoretical experience than a scientifically proven way to protect the hands during a fight.
There’s no guarantee that hand wraps will effectively protect an athlete from devastating injuries which are very common in a highly competitive and physical sport like boxing, but there has to be some reason why they are so widely used in professional boxing and other combat sports. Some of the common observations are –
- The wrap provides support to the wrist and the hand preventing unnecessary movement and stress on the joints.
- Punching without warps can damage the skin on the knuckle, so it provides a cushion to protect the skin.
- The wraps provide additional padding to the gloves and help to secure the loose areas of the gloves.
Are there better alternatives to hand-wraps in boxing?
There are some alternatives to hand wraps that can get the job done, but in professional combat sports, hand wraps are an essential equipment that rarely gets replaced by something else. The alternatives are –
Quick Wraps: The quick wraps can be a good alternative to traditional wraps especially for beginners. They are much easier to apply than the traditional wraps and also hugely versatile like the traditional hand wraps.
Inner Gloves: The inner boxing gloves are just another glove under the main boxing glove. They are light, compact, and can be easily worn under the glove without compromising comfort. The inner gloves also provide extra support for the wrist and padding for the knuckles and they are also good for quick training sessions.
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