Why Do Boxers Wrap Their Hands? Protecting and Strengthening Your Knuckles

When it comes to battling sports like boxing, every movement of your body counts. But the part that makes the most impact is your hands, as boxers rely on their hands for power and precision for each punch hit. This makes it crucial for boxers to protect their hands properly to reduce risk to the lowest possible level. But why do boxers wrap their hands? Is it just a famous ritual? Or does it actually have a purpose? 

Let’s understand the concept behind wrapping hands for boxing, its importance, some myth busters, and the proper way to wrap hands for boxing. 

The Importance of Protecting Your Hands

Stabilizing the Bones and Joints

The primary purpose of wrapping hands is to stabilize the bones and joints of the hands and wrist. Wrapping your hands during boxing makes you less likely to shift or fracture your tiny, fragile bones upon several impacts. 

Absorbing the Impact

Hand wraps also provide some padding, thus reducing the impact that your hand receives after a hit on your opponent or a heavy bag. While boxing gloves offer exterior protection, wraps offer enhanced interior support, especially on the knuckles, which are the most impacted section.

Supporting the Wrist

Wrist support is another very important function of hand wraps. When you punch somebody in boxing, your wrist may twist or bend if not positioned at the correct angle. This may even cause some sprain or even a fracture. A good wrap job prevents your wrist from bending and winding up while you punch because your wrist will be supported.

Preventing Injuries: The Silent Guardian

Protection from harm is one thing; preventing it is another. In high-impact sports like boxing, injuries are widespread. These injuries impact the player's performance, whether it's a professional or just a beginner. However, these injuries can be prevented with the right measures followed. 

Common Hand Injuries in Boxing

Some of the most common hand injuries in boxing include:

• Knuckle Bruising: Bruises on knuckles are common in boxing, and they occur when constantly hitting hard surfaces without protection. 
• Metacarpal Fractures: In these fractures, the long bones of your hands are fractured. 
• Sprains and Strains: Your ligaments and tendons can stretch too far apart if you don’t use proper hand support. This causes painful strains and sprains in your hands. 

Boxer hands are crucial in this sport and must be protected using hand wraps. All you have to do is create a protective barrier that lowers the risk of injuries. 

Long-Term Health of Your Hands

Neglecting the need to properly protect your hands can lead to further destruction in the future. One can develop chronic issues such as arthritis because of repeated trauma affecting your bones. 

With time these issues take away your ability to train, fight or even perform routine activities. All athletes, especially boxers, should always wear hand protection to preserve their skills. 

How to Wrap Your Hands: The Basics

The basic rules of boxing include the protection of the participants, and now that we understand why wrapping your hands is essential for protection, let’s discuss how to do it. 

Step-by-Step Hand Wrapping Guide

1. Start with Clean Wraps: Prioritize cleanliness. Make sure your hand wraps are clean and dry to prevent the growth of bacteria that can lead to skin irritation. 
2. Thumb Loop: Start by placing the thumb loop around your thumb and wrap it thoroughly across the back of your hand to keep it secure. 
3. Wrist Support: Now, wrap it multiple times around your wrist. Remember that the wrap should be firm and secure, not tight, as tightness can affect blood circulation.  
4. Knuckle Protection: Also, wrap your knuckles, and make 3-4 rounds to ensure proper padding. 
5. Between the Fingers: For extra stability, you should thread the wrap between each finger, as this keeps your knuckle padding in place. 
6. Back to the Knuckles: Now, make a few more passes around your knuckles for uncompromised protection. 
7. Finish at the Wrist: Wrap the remaining wrap around your wrist to secure it entirely and securely tuck the end.

Among all the equipment that boxers should have, hand wraps are also essential to boost performance. 

MythBusters: The Truth About Hand Wrapping

Now, hand wrapping is important, but it isn’t as complicated as you may think. Let’s clear out some myths related to it. 

Myth: Boxers Have to Register Their Hands as Lethal Weapons

The most common myth about boxing is that boxers have to register their hands as lethal weapons. This is entirely false. Boxers are trained thoroughly to execute each punch with power and precision, but that does not come at the cost of registering their hands. 

Myth: Hand Wraps Make Your Punches Stronger

Many people think that hand wraps make you stronger, but that is not true. Hand wraps offer a measure of security and protection to the player’s hand, which makes the player punch harder, knowing that he cannot suffer a severely injured hand.

Protect Your Hands, Protect Your Future