-Robert Frost
Above: What’s your limit? Would bloody, torn up hands make you quit a workout? Not for our warrior MK! Check out this picture of her hands from this morning! These battle wounds are a sign of her perservearance and mental as well as physical toughness!
As a CrossFitter you learn to love your scars. Callused hands are no different. Personally, when my hands are callused, it reminds me that I just survived a “sucky” WOD and made myself a little tougher mentally and physically. However, at the same time, as much as I’ve learned to value those calluses, I also know that healthy hands are very valuable in both CrossFit and life; thus, I try to avoid ripping my hands open as much as possible.
The first time I ever did “Angie” (100 Pull-Ups, 100 Push-Ups, 100 Sit-Ups, 100 Squat for time), after about the 40th pull-up, large blisters formed on my hands and by the 70th, they ripped open. However, after months of CrossFitting and a lot more practice with pull-ups, I can get through “Angie” with minimal damage to my hands. As the demands on our hands increase, our hands get stronger and the skin on our hands become more resistant to rips. Moreover, with proper hand maintenance, painful tears and blisters can be kept to a minimum, even during a workout like “Angie”. Trim or file callouses if they build up to prevent them from pinching up during pull-ups. Also, make sure to tape the hot spots on your hands before attempting a high number of pull-ups.
But, what if your blisters do rip open?
1. Using sterile clippers/scissors, trim away all the torn skin
2. Clean the area thoroughly
3. If the wound is deep (i.e. if fluid or blood is present), try and keep it moist with Neosporin and use a band-aid for the first 36-48 hours. If necessary, wrap athletic tape over the band-aid to keep it on.
4. Once healed enough to expose to air, try and keep the area moisturized (lotion or chapstick work well) so the skin does not dry out and begin to crack, which is most definitely uncomfortable.
What if a blister forms, but doesn’t rip?
1. Pierce the skin with a sterile pin/needle and drain the built-up fluids
2. Follow steps 1-4 from above.
More importantly, wipe the memory of those painful moments from your minds and get back on that bar as soon as you can! Remember, the increase in demand of your hands will strengthen them and with enough CrossFitting, your hands will become more and more resistant to blisters! Love your battle wounds and scars!
Go get your CrossFit on!
Elyse
Other links:
In depth articles about hands, blisters, and more, by CrossFit Virtuosity: click here.
Easy to follow directions and diagram to construct your own “athletic tape” hand grips: click here.
Today’s Workout:
“World P’s”
10 rounds for time, of:
5 Power Cleans
10 Pull-Ups
15 Push-Ups
Post time to comments.