WNY MMA: Wrapping hands

One of the main reasons why the people at Wny mma & fitness stress wrapping the hands so much when you are participating in boxing, kickboxing, or mma is because of the hand injuries that would occur. Boxers fracture, ligament injuries and other injuries specific to the hand can be daunting and put a halt to your training. There is some information posted below for your reading enjoyment, as well as a separate case study on boxers fractures. Proper punching technique and wrapping your hands are both the best preventative measures you can take, or not practicing martial arts works as well, but who really wants to do that. 

A boxer fracture is one of the most common hand injuries that occurs from utilizing an improper technique when punching. Other types of hand fractures are also possible and happen fairly often in these sports. A fracture means that the bones in the hand split apart in one or more places. This usually requires rest and a cast to heal completely. A ligament or cartilage tear is also a common hand ailment for boxers and other types of professional fighters. If the hand or wrist is flexed when a punch is thrown the ligament or cartilage can easily tear away from the bones. This is painful but does not usually require a cast. A jammed thumb is another injury that is common when punching people or stationary objects. This generally requires only time to heal properly.

With any contact fighting sport, hand injuries are not that uncommon, even with protective gear. If improper fighting techniques are used, the bones and ligaments of the hands and wrists are susceptible to breaks, tears, and fractures. The most common hand injury seen in boxing and UFC sparring is the boxer’s fracture. Normally, if a fist is made properly and strikes are done correctly, the force of the impact should be distributed across the hands to the wrist and arm evenly. The force should typically come from the second and third knuckles with proper form. With improper form, the force of the impact may come through the fourth and fifth knuckles; the result in the force of the impact not distributing well into the wrist and farm, and may cause the bones in the hand to buckle and ultimately fracture. This injury is typically seen when a hard, immobile object is punched, such as a wall or a box.

Here is a case study link on boxers fracture for your reading enjoyment