Do you often find blood in your wraps after a heavy workout? Are you experiencing cuts and lacerations after hitting the bag? Cuts and bruises on the knuckles are a common problem for many boxers. They can result from a large number of options, ranging from overexertion to poor technique. Cuts and bruises will limit your effectiveness and may harm the consistency of your workout. You could even worsen the problem by taking any more hits to your already injured hands. So, how do you address cuts for faster healing times? How do you minimize their occurrence? How do you stay safe when boxing? This article will help you understand how to heal knuckle cuts from boxing, as well as address other types of injuries and provide a safety guideline to help keep your hands safe.
How to heal knuckle cuts from boxing
If you are bleeding from open cuts to your knuckles, working quickly will help contain the problem. These key steps should help make it easier to manage the problem.
Look to stop bleeding immediately
If you notice that your hands are bleeding after a workout, you should seek immediate action to address this. You will not be able to treat your cuts with taking care of this in a sanitized environment. Find a clean bandage or cloth and cover your open cuts while applying steady pressure for between 10-15 minutes. Once it is dried out, clean around the cuts with lukewarm water. This will contain the bleeding and reduce the risk of infection.
Cover the cuts
Keeping your wounds sealed will minimize any contact with and exposure to germs. You could use a standard bandage, but liquid bandages offer a hassle free experience that allows you to heal your cuts with minimal fuss. Liquid bandages, which are waterproof and highly flexible, will need to be applied correctly for full value. Tape can also work just as well for smaller cuts.
Lip balm or petroleum jelly could help
Petroleum jelly has been a staple for quick medical assistance for cuts, and it will work just as well for your knuckles. If you are still looking to get a few hits in but are bleeding, petroleum jelly will work to cut down the risk of infection until you can address the situation later on. It may not offer great value for healing the cuts, but it will be an ideal protective agent until you can address them.
Soften the skin regularly
When your cut is healing, it will develop a rigid coat that could crack or peel off, exposing the very vulnerable process beneath. The thick and dry patches will be difficult to heal if they keep opening up during the timeline. You can reduce the risk of this by softening your hands throughout the day as they heal. Remember to keep your hands soaked in lukewarm water, which you can infuse with salts, oils and ointments to provide a soothing effect.
Seek medical aid
You should seek medical help if you find yourself bleeding from knuckle cuts even after exploring the changes we will suggest in later parts of this article. You will be better able to find lotions, ointments and creams that could go some way into helping you heal your knuckles quicker.
How to heal skin bag burns after training
If you’ve spent hours on the punching bag, chances are high that you may have experienced punching bag burn. The stinging sensation on your hands after a heavy workout is very common for people taking on the punching bad. But why is this? Bags are usually very heavy, with a tough textured exterior, and will deliver as much impact as a hit carries. Simply put, the bag will fight back. But how do you heal the burns after a heavy session?
For starters, these burns are actually abrasions. While they may look and feel like friction burns, they are usually the summation of a number of small cuts across your hands. These burns involve the scraping of the top layer of skin, leaving the nerve-filled skin below. The exposed skin will usually feel hot and inflamed, similar to a burn. So, how do you treat these abrasions? There are a few antibiotic ointments that could help heal your burns faster. You should stay away from heavy bag work until your hands are well healed. We also recommend following the detailed guide on boxing safety offered below to avoid future reoccurrences for a better overall boxing experience.
How to protect your knuckles
Prevention is better than cure, and stopping the nasty cuts and abrasions before they occur could be the least painful and most convenient way to go about your safety when boxing. Instead of treating your cuts, you will be safer by following these recommendations:
- Always wear boxing gloves. They are heavily padded and designed for the demands of the sport, which ensures minimal risk of injury to your hands. The best boxing gloves will be a great fit, and deliver a safe and high value experience
- Consider a change of punching bag. If you are facing cuts regularly, your bag could be the problem. Look into the consistency of its exterior and consider replacing it with a leather or vinyl punching bag.
- Wrapping your hands could provide additional impact protection
- Use the proper punching technique to reduce the risk of injury. Aside from cuts and lacerations, the right technique will also reduce the risk of a broken thumb or dislocated fingers.
- Practice your punching technique regularly, even when shadowboxing to help cut down the risk of injury.
Final word
If you often find boxing training and sparring taxing on your knuckles, this detailed breakdown should help you reduce the risk of injury and manage your cuts better for faster recovery. Remember, prevention tops cure. Instead of focusing on how to heal knuckle cuts from boxing alone, you can also explore different aspects of your training and sparring to understand how to make it safer for you. You should be able to minimize the risk of injury by wearing the right gear and using the recommended technique, as well as understanding your limits. Always aspire to stay safe during boxing for maximum value of the sport to your health.
Arlo Mcmurran
Arlo Mcmurran, a previous boxing trainer reviews sports gear; he has worked with various sporting companies and carries out intensive product analysis. Having trained with and used various boxing equipment Arlo is able to recommend quality training gear for your boxing needs. Many companies nowadays manufacture boxing gear that cannot stand serious training. He, therefore, samples the best boxing gear from different countries that engage in the sport and can thus distinguish original from imitation. Arlo runs a sports shop that sells genuine sporting gear, but since many industries focus on maximizing profits, instead of quality, Arlo decided to dedicate his life to ensuring that beginners and professional boxers can access quality gear.
