Does punching a punching bag without the use of gloves, cause athritis?

Question

[not really extra details, just a response to one of the answers]
If punching the joints arent good, does that mean the whole punching bag thing is not worth it? I mean heaps of boxers and martial artists [almost certainly] use a punching bag right? Does that mean all their knuckles and fingers are damaged ?

Answer 1

Punching a punching bag without the use of gloves, or wraps of some sort is a bad idea. For one it allows the chance for a good bit of wrist injury.

Does it cause athritis? Not right away but there isn't a lifelong boxer or martial artist that doesn't have some arthritis in their hands from years of causing trauma to the bones and joints in the hand. Quite a few of them are not able to bend their fingers all the way.

Does hitting the bag specifically without gloves cause arthritis? No, but it will cause you to rip up your skin and knuckles pretty bad, and will keep you from hitting it as hard as you could with gloves, thus negating the positive effect from hitting the bag.

For each person it is different but a main reason to work the heavy bag is that it kills the nerves in your fists and shins/foot allowing you to strike harder with less pain. It also causes microfractures in your bones, that heal up and become stronger and harder. It also helps develop callouses on your striking areas.

But that kind of extreme usage has a price over the long term and you will eventually get arthritis, joint problems at a much earlier age than someone who is easier on their body, but that is the price you pay being a fighter.

Every single fighter or competing martial artist you will find will have injuries, and most of them are joint related.

You can't strengthen joints, you can stretch them and have them become more flexible but you can't strengthen a joint.

The heavy bag is a great tool, it develops power and gives you resistance to punch on. It develops muscle, does some bone conditioning, and kills nerve endings in your fist and striking areas, allowing you to strike harder.

You will get much more of a pay off with gloves, not to mention the ability to train more. If you hit a heavy bag the way you are supposed to without gloves you will rip the skin on your fists and knuckles, putting you out of training for a few days until it heals up. This will not really build callouses, just massive scar tissue from repeatedly ripping up your skin. It is kind of counter productive.

Boxers, martial artists, kickboxers, etc. All punch the bag with wraps or bag gloves at the very least. It protects your wrist and allows you to hit a heavy bag every day.

The long term usage of a heavy bag will certainly increase your chance of getting arthritis, or PIP joint injuries in your fingers and such, but it is not a definite.

I can't say hitting a bag will cause it wihtout a doubt, everyone is different, but I can say with all certainity that it does increase your odds as you are causing constant trauma to the joints and bones in your hands.

Hope that is of some help.





***edit: Chairman's advice is completely wrong, it does not help you not get arthritis, nor does it strengthen your joints, again you cannot strengthen joints or ligaments. You can make them more flexible but not make them any stronger.

Answer 2

Arthritis can be caused by different things...

translated it simply means inflamation of the joint
this can be caused by simple trauma such as striking with or without wraps or gloves or even by an autoimmune response which is a whole other can of worms...
when someone maintains a flexed(bent) position for >15 minutes they are also adding to arthritis... so keeping a fist for a looooooooong period may be tough on the joints too... if your knee is hurting don't put a pillow under it keeping it flexed for > 15-20 minutes....

Wearing wraps and gloves help to reduce trauma by....

maintaining good technique via wraps..i.e. keeping joints in alignment to prevent stretched ligaments/tendons/muscles...
striking with 2nd(70%) and 3rd(30%) metacarpal heads... for basic seiken(normal fist) strikes

gloves... reducing friction on contact as well as adding weight to increase resistance of your workout or against your opponent; gloves can also prevent trauma by preventing some misalignment too like the wraps..

if the unfortunate does happen and you do get arthritis or other pain... you can often try:
RICE!
R -- rest
I -- ICE (no more than 20 minutes)
C-- compress
E -- Elevate

Hope that helps some!
Good luck training!
Happy New Year Everyone!

Answer 3

Do not train on a heavy bag with bare hands. You will cut your knuckles raw and damage your wrists. Get some hand wraps and gloves. If the bag is heavy wear both. If it's light and soft you can just wear the wraps if you want. I guarantee you if you start throwing hard punches, bare knuckle, on a heavy bag you will do damage to your hands and wrists.

Answer 4

Imagine for a moment your arthritis completely vanishing right now.

If, in a moment, your pain and stiffness melted away. And your joints all of a sudden functioned like a well-oiled machine.

Like a magic wand was waived, you'd be able to jump up from your chair and run around the room like a kid.

And imagine that you'd never have to suffer as much as a pinch of arthritis stiffness or pain ever again.

I know this sounds impossible right now, but bear with me, because sometimes miracles happen.

It was a gift from a woman on the other side of the world. From the kindness of her heart, she took pity on my suffering and taught me how to completely reverse my arthritis.

Today, I want to do the same for you!

Answer 5

I have a severe arthritis, I use heavy bags and makiwara.
The doctors are documenting my progress and are amazed.
Whoever talked about the auto immune factor is quite correct. As long as I don't make contact during times of inflammation it is good for my body. It is also important to use proper form as to not cause one's self injury.
I feel the training is strengthening my body and I actually have medical proof of it.

Answer 6

It can cause broken fingers and other pain....always use some sort of hand wrap when doing light bag work, but when hitting a heavy bag, wear wraps under your gloves.

Answer 7

Punching A Bag Without Gloves

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

It doesn't cause arthritis at all, it is actually a bit good for the joints because it strengthens them( granted you don't punch too hard and break your knuckles) it's all done moderately though, they don't punch too hard or too much.

Answer 10

No, but it can lead to hand injuries. I don't recommend it.