What Do Workout Gloves Do for You?

The most important parts of the body in a weightlifting workout routine are the hands. During cardiovascular activities, a person provides protection to the foot, so it is important to do the same for the hands when they are the point of focus during a workout routine. There are several ways in which an individual benefits from the use of workout gloves.

  1. Benefits

    • Workout gloves provide extra support and protection. Gloves provide added support for the wrists and the small bones within the hands. Wrapping the hands with an extra layer provides more stability and reduces the likelihood of bruising and soreness. Many professional weightlifters and fitness buffs use tape, but gloves work well and are much simpler to put on and take off. Gloves also protect against the possibility of a weight slipping from a sweaty hand and the formation of calluses. Both can cause pain or injury.

    Features

    • Weightlifting gloves often provide a pad for extra cushioning on the palm. The coverage does not usually extend to include the fingertips and is usually cut off around the bottom of the lower knuckles. This allows for a better grip of the weight or bar. Many types of gloves come with built-in wrist support so that no extra wrapping or taping is required. Options for materials are leather, neoprene or nylon.

    When To Use

    • Workout gloves are particularly beneficial when weight training or conducting exercises that require a pullup or pulldown bar. Any apparatus with a rough surface, such as the handle of a free weight or pullup bar, can be more easily used while wearing a workout glove. More intense workouts require heavier weights or a greater amount of repetitions. As fatigue limits the amount of weight a person can lift, the extra support and grip gloves provide can help during these types of workouts.

    When Not To Use

    • Workout gloves are not benefical during workouts such as yoga and Pilates. Most cardiovascular routines or exercises do not provide a necessity for workout gloves, either.