Deadlifts hurt my fingers

[puqdew]

Hey I recently started deadlifting in the 275-325lb range and my fingers kill me before I can do my intended number of reps for every set.

I use the mixed grip without any gloves etc. and can do about 3-4 reps before my fingers cant take anymore. I know I'm capable of doing way more reps.

So is this something I have to force my body to do and it will go away over time or will I have to buy pads/gloves?

 

[brikis98]

Give it time, take care of the calluses, and your hands will adapt. If you have enough time for recovery between deadlift workouts, extra grip work (pull-ups, farmers walks, KB swings, cleans, snatches, rock climbing, etc) can help toughen your hands up as well.

 

[TheNinja]

You can use straps too in you want. They will transfer a lot of the weight from your fingers to your wrists and forearms.

http://www.criticalbench.com/images/weight-lifting-straps2.jpg

 

[mchammer187]

do you use chalk?

 

[brikis98]

You can use straps too in you want. They will transfer a lot of the weight from your fingers to your wrists and forearms.

http://www.criticalbench.com/images/weight-lifting-straps2.jpg

I don't want to bring up an old argument again, but it is worth mentioning that using straps will likely prevent his grip from developing, which is one of the wonderful benefits of deadlifting.

 

[gramboh]

Might also be worth mentioning, you are gripping the bar down in the base of your fingers/top of your hand right? If you grip it in the base of your palm the bar will slide down your skin causing discomort/tearing (mostly of the palm/callus areas not so much the fingers). Other than that, just keep doing it, you will get used to it quickly.

 

[puqdew]

do you use chalk?

no

 

[MrEgo]

When you say your fingers kill, are you saying that the skin is sensitive to the friction of the bar? Or are you having issues with your tendons or bones?

If it's just a problem with the friction of the bar, then yeah, you'll get used to that. Your skin will adapt to the changes.

 

[katank]

Chalking up definitely helps a lot to prevent the bar from slipping due to sweat and leads to a more secure grip.

If you tear your skin repeatedly, use some athletic tape to cover it up.

Mostly, you'll just get used to it.

 

[mchammer187]

no

buy some chalk, and keep it in a ziploc bag

I get mine from amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/TACVPI-GSC-Gym...dp/B0000BYSM0/

it lets me do my 5RM once double overhand

without it I wouldn't even come close

it also keeps your hands from getting torn up as well and is IMO superior to gloves

whatever you do don't resort to straps at this stage because it will hinder your grip development

you can try gloves but for most people they don't help unless it is a pain tolerance issue rather than a strength/fatigue issue/slippage issue

 

[Eric62]

Do you slam the weight off of the floor hoping to bounce some momentum into your next rep? The vibrations off of the bar can cause hand pain...

 

[rocksmith]

Do you use straps for Deadligift, Do you wear gloves because your hands hurt? Look at the picture at the top. The guy deadlifts a heavy weight with his bare hands. How come he doesn’t need straps or gloves.
Proactol Review

 

[TheNinja]

And ya, I understand that straps can hinder your grip development and I certainly would not use them all the time. But once in a while if you are a going for a really heavy lift to really shock your muscles, I would not hesitate to use straps. You can shock the rest of your body above and beyond what your grip can normally hold.

 

[conorvansmack]

Read this for advice on gripping the bar for barbell exercises.
http://stronglifts.com/how-to-minimize-callus-formation-treat-ripped-calluses/

There is no shame in backing the weight off in order to get all your reps with proper technique.

 

[Deeko]

I don't want to bring up an old argument again, but it is worth mentioning that using straps will likely prevent his grip from developing, which is one of the wonderful benefits of deadlifting.

We've discussed the virtues of these things many times in the past, so I will just put a tip out there - if you do use straps, only use them on your heavy sets. Deadlift without them until you no longer can hold the bar, then strap up and do heavier. That way, you're still developing your grip as much as possible, and not stalling the other muscles in the lift in the process. Eventually, your grip will catch up and you can ditch the straps altogether.

 

[TallBill]

We've discussed the virtues of these things many times in the past, so I will just put a tip out there - if you do use straps, only use them on your heavy sets. Deadlift without them until you no longer can hold the bar, then strap up and do heavier. That way, you're still developing your grip as much as possible, and not stalling the other muscles in the lift in the process. Eventually, your grip will catch up and you can ditch the straps altogether.

This! Now I use only chalk do deadlift, and grip hasn't been an issue for a long time. I still use straps on rows and step ups.