Do Gloves Help Your Wrists When Working Out?

Some people prefer wearing gloves while exercising, especially for weight training. Gloves can provide many benefits to your wrists, along with protecting your hands from callouses and other health problems. However, other people have trouble with gloves and believe the gloves actually hinder their weight-lifting techniques. Whether or not you wear gloves is based on personal preference and depends on factors such as how they impact your workout and if your wrists hurt if you don't wear them.

  1. Wrist Protection

    • The main benefit that gloves give your wrists when you're lifting weights is protection from injury. Heavier weights will put more pressure on your nerves, which can injure your wrists and hands. Gloves can protect your nerves from injury by providing extra padding between the weight and the nerve. In addition, gloves can give wrist support that might protect you from developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

    Heavier Weights

    • The support that gloves give to people's wrists can also help some people lift heavier weights and get a better workout. If you have a loose grip or if your palms are sweaty, the weaker grip can make it harder for your wrists to support the weights you're lifting. Gloves can help you get a better grip and can also help your wrists maintain a better form while weight lifting, both of which can help you lift heavier weights.

    Disadvantages

    • Not everyone thinks the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of wearing gloves while working out. People who lift weights with thicker bars might actually find their grip strength weakening a bit on deadlifts, rows and pullup techniques. When doing bench presses, gloves might prevent you from holding the weights as close, causing your wrists to roll back.

    Features to Look For

    • Sometimes the type of glove you choose can make the difference in whether a glove helps or hinders your workout. Look for gloves made of leather or neoprene, which help your grip more than nylon gloves. Gloves will also help your workout more if they have built-in wrist wraps and fit snugly. Machine-washable gloves are a good choice because your gloves will get sweaty and dirty after just one use, and being able to wash them in a machine is much more convenient.