Topic: Fingertips

[mdude2244]

One of my favorite things to train on is brick. I don't know why but it is part of my daily routine. The only problem is i tear my fingertips up. What is the best way to get them to heal quickly? And no im not going to wear gloves when i train.

[Janine]

There's some really harsh friction tape on some of the vault boxes at the gym.  Tears my fingertips up something awful. (I've been fingerprintless for a while before. So awesome!) Also, I enjoy brick as well.  Does the same thing.  

I found that my fingers heal the fastest if I rub some sort of oil on them before I sleep at night.  I use sweet almond oil, but olive oil could work well too. The emollient qualities of oil have a quickening effect on the healing process. Works great on rips too!

[mdude2244]

Thanks i'll have to give it a try. If anybody else has suggestions let me know.

[Justin "Rabbit" Oakes]

yah i would def wrap them with tape.. not to much tape cause you dont want to loose grip or anything.. but enough to where it covers up the soft spots on your fingers..

[Steven Low]

You'll get used to it eventually. Try to avoid rough surfaces though.

[mdude2244]

yah i would def wrap them with tape.. not to much tape cause you dont want to loose grip or anything.. but enough to where it covers up the soft spots on your fingers..
[/quoteS

Sounds good. What kind of tape and should i put a bandage underneath the tape? Or should i put neosporin on it too while i train or when im not?

[Dan Frank]

You'll get used to it eventually. Try to avoid rough surfaces though.

Err... why? The whole point of not wearing gloves and/or not putting pillows all around your training spot is so that your hands get used to the rough surfaces.

Don't wrap them with tape or put bandages on unless they're open and bleeding and there's a chance of infection. You can put olive oil or whatever on, but honestly, the skin on your hands heals and builds up so fast that it's really not worth the effort.

[Steven Low]

Err... why? The whole point of not wearing gloves and/or not putting pillows all around your training spot is so that your hands get used to the rough surfaces.

Don't wrap them with tape or put bandages on unless they're open and bleeding and there's a chance of infection. You can put olive oil or whatever on, but honestly, the skin on your hands heals and builds up so fast that it's really not worth the effort.

Avoid rough surfaces because of their ability to tear up the hands faster....

[Justin "Rabbit" Oakes]

yah i would def wrap them with tape.. not to much tape cause you dont want to loose grip or anything.. but enough to where it covers up the soft spots on your fingers..
[/quoteS

Sounds good. What kind of tape and should i put a bandage underneath the tape? Or should i put neosporin on it too while i train or when im not?

well i had the same prob.. i use athletic tape myself.. it usually handles the best and its rough on the outside so you will get some better grip outa them.. as far as the bandage goes.. i wouldnt but thats really up to you.. i dont really see the use for it unless you have cuts or skin rippage under the tape..

[mdude2244]

I went with the approach of no tape, no gloves, and leting them heal on their own. However it's hard for me NOT to train almost every day. Also i had to put something on them for a while because they did start to bleed and tear. I was just looking for the quickest and best way for them to heal.

[Dan Frank]

Avoid rough surfaces because of their ability to tear up the hands faster....

Do NOT avoid rough surfaces because of their ability to tear up the hands faster, you mean. Your hands will get as tough as the surfaces you train on are rough. Train on smooth concrete, and your hand will stay fairly smooth and soft. Train on rough, big-pored brick, and your hands will get torn up, but they'll harden up.

[Steven Low]

Do NOT avoid rough surfaces because of their ability to tear up the hands faster, you mean. Your hands will get as tough as the surfaces you train on are rough. Train on smooth concrete, and your hand will stay fairly smooth and soft. Train on rough, big-pored brick, and your hands will get torn up, but they'll harden up.

Yes and no.
 
You don't want to be actually getting lots of RIPS especially when you start out.

Once you adapt to "less rough" surfaces I would definitely say go to the rougher surfaces. But for people with really soft hands I would definitely NOT start them on rough surfaces. They will rip in under 10 minutes. Not useful for training at all.

[Dan Frank]

Yes and no.
 
You don't want to be actually getting lots of RIPS especially when you start out.

Once you adapt to "less rough" surfaces I would definitely say go to the rougher surfaces. But for people with really soft hands I would definitely NOT start them on rough surfaces. They will rip in under 10 minutes. Not useful for training at all.

Yeah, you're right. But I wouldn't go way out of my way to avoid rough surfaces.

[Janine]

Also, rubbing an emollient into ripped hands isn't going to keep them from getting tougher.   In fact, it will help them heal faster, making it more feasible to get out and train on them harder, sooner. 

[mdude2244]

OOOOO ok ok. That's what I was looking for a quick remedy. I'll give that a try.

[Glacieus]

Yeah, you're right. But I wouldn't go way out of my way to avoid rough surfaces.

I think what Steven meant was that it was best not to train on hard surfaces right away. Start off with other surfaces and work your way up. The idea is to improve yourself not mutilate your fingers. Try working up some calouses on your fingertips using smoother surfaces like metal. This way you get the endurance without looking like you high-fived Freddy Kruger.