Originally posted by: John P.
Actually it is interesting - some athletes wear wristbands and/or tape their wrists for a bit different reason. I once sprained my wrist playing softball and went to a sports doc to fix it up. He showed me the cover of SI with a pic of a baseball player batting and pointed out the wristbands and batting gloves - he asked me if I know why he (baseball player) wears them - I replied about the same as ya'll have so far.
He went on to explain to me that it also helps with grip strength and to help protect the tendons in your wrist. He likened it to a cement pillar - all the tendons run from hand to wrist in a straight line. How do you earthquake proof a cement pillar on a freeway overpass? Wrap it in steel... wristbands and batting glove cinched up works the same way, although obviously not as well as taping. That is also why gymnasts on the high bars tape their wrists - supposedly they also did some testing and wrapping increases grip strength.
OK, so there, you learned something today....
