One of the main reasons why bodybuilders experience persistent and often chronic wrist and elbow pain during pull-ups is an improper alignment of the joints. When your elbow, wrist, and shoulders are not in an optimal position to take the load during the exercise, the connective tissues are irritated.
One of the ways to fix that would be to do ring pull-ups instead of the regular straight bar version. However, if you don’t have access to rings, you can try another technique – the thumbless grip.
What is a thumbless grip?
The thumbless grip requires you to put your thumb on the side of the fingers instead of against them. This may seem like a minor tweak, but it can effectively reduce the stress on the wrist during pull-ups. In addition, a proper wrist alignment will also have a positive effect on the position of your elbows and shoulders.
If you grab the bar with the thumb in an opposing position, you will notice that your wrists sort of tilt to one side during the pull-up. This creates an improper joint alignment that can result in future discomfort and pain.
The thumbless grip demonstrated by Franco Columbo
Note: NEVER use the thumbless grip for exercises like the bench press. It’s very dangerous. One wrong movement can kill you.
Should I use the thumbless grip for “neutral chin-up” too (the exercise that the palms are facing each other)?
Only if it feels better.
Been feeling discomfort in my left wrist that has lessened as I rest these past few weeks since I tweaked it moving a box with a bedframe inside. Right now I do a random 2 to 3 pullups on days where I feel restless just to feel it out and its gotten better. Quarter of the way through this article I went down to the basement and did 4 pain free pullups!!! Plan was to get back to training on Monday but I kinda wanna begin today as the workout plan i put together has pullups on some days of the week! So helpful thanks for the adjusting thumb tip!!