Sam DeHority Sam DeHority - Sam DeHority is an Associate Editor at STACK Media. He was previously a member of the editorial staffs at Men’s Fitness and Muscle & Fitness,... Become a Contributing Expert Home // Gear // Workout Equipment Common Lifting Accessories and What They Do For You April 15, 2014 ShareTweet+1StumblePin86Shares You have a decent idea of what all those funky looking bars are meant for in your gym. But that barrel of chalk? Or that PVC pipe? And what about that huge guy who comes in with wraps on his knees and straps covering his hands. Those things might still confuse you. But they can be helpful items in your lifting toolkit, provided you know how to use them. Here, we break down a few of the most common accessories and what they can do for you. Knee Wraps Harbingers Knee Wraps Photo: Harbinger Some gym rats slap these elastic knee wraps on their legs before they set up to tackle a heavy Squat. “They’re elastic bands that give you more of a rebound out of the bottom of your squat,” says Steve Grosso, B.S., CSCS. “Knee wraps give you [a boost on your Squat].” But they’re not for everyone, and Grosso cautions against slapping them on if you’re just starting to lift. “Unless you compete in strength sports, there is no reason to use knee wraps,” Grosso says. “In that case, they’re just there for a bit of an ego boost. Weightlifting Belt Weightlifting Belt Josh Cribbs You probably see a few patrons in your gym strolling around with thick leather bands around their waist. “That’s to help stabilize your trunk during big, heavy loaded movements,” Grosso explains. “Squats, Deadlifts—if you do compete in heavy strength sports, maybe an Overhead Press. Any other exercise, unless you have a serious, pre-existing back problem, you’re not going to need it.” Even for heavy lifts—unless youre lifting over 95 percent of your max—avoid using a belt so your core muscles can do the work. If you’re looking to purchase a belt, don’t plunk down cash on a cheap, ineffective model. “I don’t understand the belts that are wide in the back and skinny in the front—your belt applies pressure from the front,” Grosso says. “If you’re going to get a belt, get one that’s the same width all the way around.” Fat Gripz/Grip4orce Fat Gripz Photo: Fat Gripz Ever seen someone slap a thick rubber tube around the bar before they attempt a big lift? They’re probably trying to increase their grip strength. “I love those products,” Grosso says. “They’re for grip strength, and everyone can use more grip strength. Some people use them for benching. You can use them for Pull-Ups, any sort of Row variation, any sort of Curl variation, and they’ll light your forearms up.” The thicker handle makes it more difficult to grip the bar, which challenges your grip while you do the exercise. They essentially turn standard barbells and dumbbells into axle bars. Chalk Chalk Photo: Thinkstock That dusty bucket of chalk in the corner of the gym is not the same stuff used to scribble on the blackboard. It’s magnesium carbonate, which is different from the calcium sulfate found in classrooms. “Chalk is used to help with your grip,” Grosso says. “It absorbs the sweat on your hands.” If you chalk up, you might avoid having a slippery, sweaty bar roll out of your hands during a heavy lift. Lifting Straps Lifting Straps Photo: RogueFitness These things wrap around your wrist and flow into your palm. Like chalk, they give you a better grip on the bar during a heavy lift. “If you want to get the biomechanics of it, straps take wrist and hand flexor strength out of the equation and basically connect your arm to the bar,” Grosso says. “[When you do that], it’s just wrapped around there and connected to your wrist.” However, athletes should avoid straps, even if grip strength is an issue. Rather than hiding a weakness, lift as much as your grip can handle and add grip-strength exercises to your workouts.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:57:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015