Tips For Neurogrips

Tips For Neurogrips

 

 

Here are some things to keep in mind when using Neurogrips.

 

1)

Neurogrips are not used alone like the traditional hand grip trainers, but are used with other pieces of fitness equipment, both standard and non-standard that can be gripped with your bare hands.  These include barbells, dumbells, cable attachments, therapy tubing, kettlebells, Indian Clubs, Persian Mil, sledgehammers, ropes, suspension trainers, sleds, etc....  

 

2)

Once you put on the Neurogrips, the finger webbing is used simply to keep the grips attached to your hands for comfort and for the convenience of decreasing the chance of losing them while moving from one exercise to the next.  As everyone's hand may be a different size, the Neurogrips only need to span the gripping area between the hand and the handle that you are attempting to grip in order to increase the thickness/diameter by approximately 1 inch. 

 

3)

 

Straight out of the packaging, Neurogrips may feel slightly stiff.  But as was stated above, they are not meant to be used alone like hand grippers.  You do not put them on and try to squeeze them in order to train your grip.  You put them on, then place your hands with the Neurogrips onto the handle of the fitness device that you are going to lift.  By doing this, Neurogrips will easily wrap around the handle, and you must "CRUSH" the Neurogrips on the handle to truly feel the grip benefits.  This is true functional grip training. 

4)

No open hand or false grip if you want to maximize your grip.   You will still be challenged with your grip, but you want to include your thumbs.

 

 For the full benefit, make sure you include your thumbs when gripping the device

  

Because Neurogrips are compressible, it allows you to adjust your grip throughout each repetition, particularly during explosive exercises like the kettlebell Snatch so that you can control the speed of the kettlebell as it moves around your wrist.  Just like bare hand training, once you place your hand on the handle, you may want to make adjustments to your hand until you feel comfortable enough to make the lift.  When using Neurogrips, you may want to make the same minor adjustments to the Neurogrips prior to crushing the handle and making the lift.  The more you train with the Neurogrips, the more they will contour to your hand and the less adjustments you will feel the need to make during your training.  They will become an extension of your hand. 

You can see in the following pictures, that although there is a specific "thumb" region of the Neurogrips, when gripping a particular device, your hand/thumbs may not exactly match up with that area of the Neurogrips.  This does not matter, as the Neurogrips encompass the entire handle of the device.  No matter where your thumb lies, you will be compressing a larger diameter/thickness handle. 

 

In the picture below, I exaggerate the position of my thumb to be completely off the "thumb section" of the Neurogrips.  But because the Neurogrips encompass the handle, I still must use my thumb to compress the larger diameter.  The grip challenge created by Neurogrips remains, no matter where the thumb is (unless you use a false or open hand grip) 

 

 

Like any other new training technique, you may initially want to slowly add Neurogrips into your program.  As is with anything, if you are not used to doing something, and you all of a sudden do it repetitively, you may feel sore.  I advise trying one set with Neurogrips and the next without them so that you can feel the difference.  You will notice that the set without Neurogrips is much easier than when using Neurogrips, and in time what was once a challenge to lift bare-handed, will seem much  easier. 

Bottoms Up Kettlebell Bicep Curls Using Neurogrips

Bottoms Up Kettlebell Bicep Curls Using Neurogrips

 

 

To properly perform the bicep curl, you must initiate the movement by retracting your scapulae so that your shoulders are in correct alignment.  If using a dumbbell, grip the handle tightly and flex your elbow.  Maintaining your shoulders/scapulae in proper position while performing the bicep curl helps train scapula stabilizers (isometrically), which will act as the foundation for the upper extremity movement.  With a dumbbell, the weight is distributed evenly in your hand.  However, if using a kettlebell in the bottoms up position, the weight of the bell is offset in relation to the handle that you are gripping, so the lever you are attempting to move is longer and therefore more difficult to lift.  Because of the awkward weight distribution and shape of the kettlebell, when performing the Bottoms Up Kettlebell Curl, it is much more demanding on your hand grip and forearm strength as you are trying to curl the weight, while at the same time preventing the kettlebell from moving your wrist into flexion, extension, radial/ulnar deviation, pronation or supination.   You are constantly making adjustments to your grip to control the movement of the Kettlebell.  To make it even more challenging, try this same exercise with Neurogrips.   

 

 In the images above, you can see how Neurogrips add thickness/diameter to the kettlebell handle.  In the picture on the left, the thumb overlaps the index finger.  In picture on the right, the thumb does not come close to the index finger.  The goal here is to control the kettlebell by "crushing" the Neurogrips around the handle.

Below is the Kettlebell Bottoms Up Curl with Neurogrips.  To initiate the curl, the shoulders/scapulae must be "set" isometrically.  Then as you curl the kettlebell, you must avoid trunk sidebending towards the side of the kettlebell as well as losing control of the "set" scapulae.  Do not let your shoulders drop or protract (roll forward).

  

The Motions of The Hand, Wrist, And Forearm

 

The Motions of The Hand, Wrist, And Forearm

 

 

When holding objects, there are multiple hand, wrist and forearm positions that may impact or limit the amount of grip force you can apply.  To strengthen your grip functionally, you should not only manipulate the thickness/diameter of the objects you grip, but should also incorporate a directional bias of the resistance that you are attempting to overcome.  The following pictures show the various hand, wrist, finger and forearm positions:

Wrist Flexion and Extension with the fingers extended

Wrist Extension, Neutral, and Flexion with fingers flexed in a fist for gripping

Radial Deviation moves the hand towards the thumb using the wrist as the fulcrum; Ulnar Deviation moves the hand towards the pinky at the wrist joint

Supination turns the palm up as if you are trying to fill it with water, pronation turns the palm down and neutral is similar to a handshake

 

 

The above pictures explain the multiple positions that you are able to move your hand, fingers, wrist and forearm.  Your goal is to maximize your hand, wrist, forearm and grip strength in all available positions.  However, it is not advised that you focus grip training in any one particular hand, wrist, forearm position, as this can lead to overuse injuries.  Grip training should focus on maintaining a neutral wrist position, while incorporating a resistance and/or directional forces.  For example, this force may be directed toward radial deviation of your wrist.  With this, it is your job to fight that directional force by firing ulnar deviation muscles in order to maintain the neutral wrist position.  You may also perform a technique that provides a multi-directional force to your hand, wrist and forearm.  This "instability" forces you to frequently readjust your grip, as well as the muscle activation of your hand, wrist and forearm in order to maintain the neutral position (creating wrist joint stability as well as maximum grip strength).  Although on a smaller scale, this is similar to incorporating perturbations to your trunk while maintaining a neutral spine (dynamic core/trunk stabilization). 

 

Once you are able to maintain a stable and neutral hand/grip/wrist position while directional forces are applied, you may further challenge your grip by adding another dimension... thickness/diameter of the object you are attempting to control.  Incorporating Neurogrips will help you to add both thickness/diameter as well as allow you to easily incorporate a directional bias.  The next few blog entries will show examples of training techniques that use Neurogrips while adding a directional bias at the same time.  Neurogrips may be quickly and easily put on or removed between exercises and sets to minimize rest time between exercises.  You do not have to struggle to put them on or take them off the device, because they do not attach to anything except your own hand.  They can be used to add 1-inch diameter to all exercise equipment that can be gripped with your bare hand. 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for some examples of dynamic grip stabilization exercises that will not only focus on grip but also on your wrist, forearm, shoulder and trunk.

 

 For more information on Neurogrips, go to www.neurogrips.com

Grip Training While Jumping Rope?

Grip Training While Jumping Rope?

 

 

Jumping rope provides a total body conditioning workout, with a focus on improving strength, agility, coordination, foot work and endurance.  You have the option of using a weighted jump rope or a speed rope, both of which provide the benefits previously listed.  A speed rope focuses on speed and quickness and is better for developing coordination and conditioning, while weighted jump ropes enhance strength of the upper body and burn more calories, which helps with weight loss. 

No matter which type of jump rope you use, adding NEUROGRIPS to the mix will not only provide the benefits listed above, but will also emphasize hand grip, wrist and forearm strength, and endurance.  Using NEUROGRIPS will increase the jump rope handle grip diameter by approximately 1 inch, making grasping of the rope handles more challenging.  This will raise your heart rate, burn more calories and provide you with yet another opportunity to incorporate grip training into your daily workout routine, without having to set additional time aside for the traditional grip training exercises.  


STANDARD JUMP ROPE



BAREHANDED GRIP - COMPLETE CLOSURE WITH FINGERTIPS TOUCHING PALM

NEUROGRIPS - NOTICE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FINGERTIPS AND PALM - ABLE TO COMPRESS THE NEUROGRIP IN ORDER TO HOLD HANDLE - A REAL FOREARM BURNER!

 

Start training with NEUROGRIPS!

Go to www.strengthondemand.com



NEUROGRIPS

NEUROGRIPS:

 

Created by KB Fitness, LLC and new to the Fitness and Rehab industry,  Neurogrips is the most versatile grip training accessory on the market.  It can not only be used on barbells, dumbbells and the most common fitness center equipment handles, but can also  be used on Kettlebells, Sledgehammers, Indian Clubs, Persian Mil, Ropes, Suspension Trainers such as TRX and Gymnast Rings, Resistance Tubing, etc.  If you can grasp the device with your hand, NEUROGRIPS will enhance the grip demand by adding approximately 1 inch to the diameter of the tool you are training with.  So the standard barbell with a 1 inch diameter can instantly turn into a 2 inch "Fat Bar" 

 

Go to www.strengthondemand.com and check out  NEUROGRIPS. 

Made in USA and a Lifetime Warranty. 

Click link below:

NEUROGRIPS