The knuckle problem

Hundreds, if not thousands, of people regularly suffer from knuckle pain. Did you know that the pain in those knuckles is often not caused by hitting those knuckles at all?

The knuckle problem is usually found in the metacarpals. Due to the unnatural shape of the hand in the glove, you cannot make a real fist. Depending on the glove, your hand is forced into a position where the tension on the metacarpal bones is too low. There is always a little bit of room for play in the construction.

This play within the bones allows room for bending in the wrist. If you hit at a specific time and the tension in the wrist region is just a little too low, the bones will be able to rotate. By shifting or rotating the bones, there is a structural change. The first place you feel this is the knuckles.

Pain in the knuckles is the first signal that something is happening in the hand. In most cases, the problem is not the knuckle. Yet you see and feel the effects there. There is swelling, irritation, tenderness, and sometimes discoloration. This all starts where the Lunatum, Hamatum, Capitatum, or Trapezium in the carpal area strongly influence the nerve pathways of the hand.

Many immediately look for a solution for the knuckle and buy padding or stop training. Both are not necessary. The remedy is to apply excellent and regular traction and the use of a good glove.

What is a good glove? Hundreds of “specialists” active online give their views on this. It is straightforward. A good glove fits you, provides support, and helps with correct posture. Which glove is that? Every hand is different, and personal advice is therefore needed. Can you get that advice online? No. Why not? Your hand's shape, thickness, length, and width are three-dimensional and therefore have a specific fit. This fit is accompanied by feeling and purpose. This combination makes direct communication with a sales channel necessary for the right choice. Follow-up purchases could be made online, provided the manufacturer continues producing the same product.

If you currently have knuckle problems, start with traction. Gently pulling the hand apart to create space. By creating space, the carpal bones can return to their original position, and you solve the problem. Traction can be painful when injured, so pay attention to how hard you pull.

Good luck or visit us if you don't like it anymore.

Arnaud van der Veere

Hand specialist specialized in Martial Arts injuries