The World of Gymnastics

Posts Tagged ‘gymnastics bars’

 

 

In gymnastics, hand rips from gripping bars are common and repairable. Did you know they are, in many cases avoidable? I will give you tips on how to avoid grip rips. I will also explain how to repair and treat them if you do get these hand rips.

Grip rips are part of being a gymnast, but it is important to keep them minimal. Tender loving care will help or possibly prevent these painful hand rips. I want to help you avoid ripping those callused hands. It not only causes pain, but can hinder a performance.

Calluses are the hardened or thickened parts of the skin. They are to help protect the area where there is a lot of friction. Calluses are located at the top of the palms and sometimes in the middle of the inside of the hand. The more friction that occurs, the deeper the calluses. If the calluses get too thick, then rips can occur. It is important to avoid hand rips by maintaining proper care.

In gymnastics before you see a gymnast start her bar routine, she will rub chalk on her hands. This helps decrease the friction, but it also dries out the hands.

The best way to a gymnast can care for her calluses is by shaving them down. Many stores sell callus razors.  Pumice stones may also be used. I have even heard of people using podiatric sanders as well. Anything that helps grind down or shave the unwanted layers of the calluses. Do not shave the calluses down too far. In gymnastics, these calluses are a must have, just don’t let them get too thick. Groom them every week to avoid hand rips. Shaving the layers of a callus will keep excess skin from growing. Also, use a good skin moisturizer. Before bed is a must, Bag Balm is my favorite. Although it moisturizes, it also seems to heal the skin. It is usually found at your local hardware, farm, or drug store.

In gymnastics it is important to take care of a hand rip properly and as soon as possible. It must first be cleaned out with an antibacterial type product to keep the wound from getting infected. I recommend using an antibiotic suave just before covering up the wound. There are H shaped bandages that may be used if your gymnastics facility has them in their first aid box. If not, I recommend  wrapping gauze and tape around the hand. This is a sure way to keep the wound protected. Wrapping the hand will also help the gymnast to go on with her bar workout. Also, be sure to cut a couple pieces of tape and adhere them from the bandage inside of hand, through the fingers, and attach it to the  back of the bandage. Keep the wound covered for 4-5 days. If it is not healed, repeat this process and try to avoid too much friction until it heals.

 

USAG has specific skills and requirements in each gymnastics level.  Here is a list of the required  level  5 gymnastics skills, requirements, and deductions for gymnastics uneven bars.

STRADDLE GLIDE KIP OR PIKE GLIDE KIP- Must take off of both feet at the same time. Feet must lead in the glide. Must extend body at the end of the glide. If you straddle you must close your legs together at the end of your glide.

FRONT HIP CIRCLE- you must show a straight hollow body position with straight arms while going around the uneven bars.

CAST-This cast must be connected to the front hip circle. Must stay hollow in your cast, you cannot arch. Cast must reach a horizontal height. You need to show a straight line from shoulders to feet. Maintain straight arms throughout and return to the uneven bars in a controlled front support.

CAST SQUAT ON OR CAST PIKE ON- Make sure you cast fulfills the same requirements listed on the cast above. When you squat or pike on you must place both feet on the bar at the SAME time. You must lift your hips only when doing the squat/pike on.

JUMP TO HIGH BAR LONG HANG KIP- Be sure to swing near horizontal before you kip. Maintain straight arms.

CAST ON HIGH BAR- make sure you meet the same requirements that are listed for low uneven bar.

BACK HIP CIRCLE- maintain a straight hollow body position during the entire back hip circle. Your hips or thighs must maintain contact with the uneven bars the entire time.

UNDERSWING-once again you must maintain hip/thigh connection with bar and a straight hollow body  throughout.

1^st COUNTER SWING- Hips must to a minimum of 30 degrees below the height of the high uneven bar. Make sure to show a straight line from your hands to your hips while maintaining a hollow position.

TAP SWING- show a slightly arched body position at the bottom of the swing. Maintain a straight hollowed body position on the upswing. On the tap swing your feet must reach the height of the high uneven bar

2^nd COUNTER SWING-hips must reach a minimum of 15 degrees below the height of the high bar. The same body position from counter swing 1 is required.

HALF TURN DISMOUNT- must reach a minimum of 45 degrees below the height of the high bar. Complete a half turn before re-grasping the uneven bars.  After the half turn is complete you must re-grasp the bar with free hand.

First things first, when you get new gymnastics hand grips you must break them in before you jump up on the uneven bars and attempt your hard skills and tricks. Some grips are harder to break in than others do to the thickness and stiffness of the leather. There are several different ways to break grips in. First, when your gymnastics grips are not in use, roll them as if they were around the bar. This will allow them to take the shape of the gymnastics bar. Second, put the grips on, mount the bars and do simple skills only. That way you will have a much less chance of peeling off. My advice would be to stay on the low gymnastics bar only until you get use to them.

When you first put gymnastics grips on, the finger holes are always too tight. DO NOT cut the finger holes or force the holes wider by stretching them to try to make them fit. This will only make your grips un-wearable, and you would have to cough up more money to buy another new pair. All you have to do is roll up a little piece of sand paper and sand the inside of the holes until they fit snugly. Another tip, do not let other girls wear your gymnastics grips. It can stretch the finger holes out were you can no longer wear your new grips without them slipping around.

Once you get your grips broke in and wear them on a regular basis they may start to get slick. This is due to the leather wearing down from each skill performed on the gymnastics uneven bars. To get them rough again you take a wire grip brush and brush the grips up and down until it starts to get rough again. You can keep doing this every time they get slick. Once they get too thin, you will need a new pair.

Many gymnasts store their gymnastics grips in bags. These bags are called grip bags. If you place your gymnastics grips in a grip bag after every bar rotation it will eliminate the amount of chalk that will get all over. Plus carrying your grip bag to the gymnastics bars and back is much easier then caring your gym bag around!