Hand problem

[Soule]

Hey Doc Morris,

I’ve had an issue with my right hand for about three months that presented itself after a weird catch on a relatively heavy power clean. I have terrible elbow flexion (roughly 45 degrees) that doesn’t seem to improve much no matter how i attempt to stretch. This makes the front rack position problematic for me and I often have a hard time racking heavy cleans.

There is a small, solid bump on the back of my hand in the area of the capitate — possibly the cartilage between this bone and the metacarpal. The pain occurs after holding wrist extension in the front rack position. It goes mostly away after being unloaded for a minute or so, but some slight pain and swelling remains for about a day after. When it is irritated I can feel it through the palm of my hand as well.

I’ve been avoiding power cleans for a few months and I’m really itching to get back to them. In your opinion, is this issue likely to get worse? Would wrist wraps help in this scenario?

Thanks Doc!

[Nick D'Agostino]

If you are still having wrist pain after a few months, after a missed power clean, I would get it checked out. You can try a wrist wrap and see if it helps or maybe switch to a power snatch if your only current limitation is the power clean rack position.

[Soule]

Thanks Nick,

Just so happens i was thinking the same thing with the wraps and I got them in the mail yesterday — going to try them out tomorrow!

I also irritated the shit out of my hand doing a front squat 5x3 last week and it’s been feeling much better this week then it has in months.

[Nick D'Agostino]

You're welcome! I hope the wrist wraps make a difference.