1. Motocross Madness
Motocross is a fast-paced, physical sport that's fun for spectators and riders alike. But because motocross is such a physical sport, riders have to be careful to avoid injury. Wrists are especially prone to injury since they steer the bike and sustain a lot of the initial impact of a fall. Prevent wrist injuries in motocross by taking a few precautions and preventative measures when you ride.
2. Get the Gear
Wear motocross gloves and grips that cushion and protect your wrists to help keep them safe. Certain riding gloves have built-in safety features that enhance your performance by giving you a better grip. Use bike grips on your handlebars that have treads or grip texture instead of smooth bars that could become slippery and hard to hold. Wear gloves that fit your hands snugly without any extra room. Gloves should have rubber or textured palm grips to hold on to the handle bars better. Look for gloves that fit over the wrist or have wrist supports built into them to help protect the wrist area.
3. Improve Wrist Strength
Do wrist exercises to help increase the strength of your wrists so they're less vulnerable to injury. Working with dumbbells will help increase wrist strength gradually. Use small dumbbells to do wrist curls; hold your arm with the palm facing forward and curl your wrist slowly upward. You can also do elbow curls; sit with your elbow rested on your knee and your arm parallel to your leg. Bend your arm at the elbow and bring it up to your shoulder. Do 10 repetitions with each hand to begin with, and gradually increase the number of repetitions.
4. Brace Your Wrists
Wear wrist braces under your riding gloves to give your wrists extra support. Wear pull-over braces so they'll fit easily under your gloves and gear without impeding your hand and arm movements. Braces with rigid supports and stabilizers in them give more support and might be beneficial for a rider whose wrist is weakened from a previous injury, but these rigid braces partially immobilize the wrist and could impair steering.
5. Falling Safely
No one likes to fall off a bike, but falling safely can help you prevent wrist injuries. Try not to put your hands out in front of you to stop yourself. It's a natural reaction, but it could actually fracture or break your wrist. Instead, tuck your arms into your chest and try to roll when you hit the ground. This limits the impact to your hands and wrists and minimizes the risk of injury.
