So is it true, or not, that rock climbing makes one’s hands bigger? A study from the University of Tennessee investigated whether or not rock climbing put the athletes at a higher risk for developing osteoarthritis.
And in the process, the researchers discovered that indeed, rock climbers’ bones in the fingers and hands had a greater cross-sectional area, and greater total width. This suggests that additional bone was being deposited on the bones’ external surface.
Does this translate to bigger hands from rock climbing? Well, for sure, it means larger or thicker bones — but would this necessarily cause the actual appendage to measure bigger, as in, longer fingers, greater finger diameter, greater palm width?
My mother began studying classical piano at a very young age. She’s four inches shorter than me, yet her hands are larger than mine, and I have large ones relative to my height – not super large, but I’ve noticed that they are larger than other women my height or even several inches or more taller. Maybe this is from years of competitive volleyball. It could also be natural.
My mother’s finger span width is greater than mine. When we put hands together at the palms, it’s obvious that hers are larger than mine. This has to be from the decades of piano playing. I’d venture to say that the increased size occurred while she was still growing.
But do larger hands mean that they are stronger (other than in a specific sport or activity that made them that way)? No. My mother’s hands are not stronger than mine, and never were (except when I was a child, of course). She’s always asking me to unscrew jar lids. I don’t have proof that piano is why my mother’s hands are bigger than mine, but it certainly stands to reason. And she is not a “big boned” person, either.
The study on rock climbers shows that the cortical bone thickness is increased in their fingers and hands. And that rock climbers do not have a higher risk of osteoarthritis when compared to people who do not rock climb.
I’d like to know if the dominant hands of professional bowlers are disproportionately larger than their non-dominant ones. We all know that the dominant arms of pro tennis players are noticeably bigger and more muscled than their non-dominant arms.
I’m a certified personal trainer who used to do a lot of indoor climbing. If you want stronger hands, they don’t have to get bigger. Of course, what constitutes the strength is open to interpretation. It can mean volleyball finger strength and endurance; having a crushing grip; being able to hang your full body weight by two fingers and then do a pull-up; and being able to hold heavy items by the hands for sustained periods (e.g., luggage, heavy weights for farmer’s walks).
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/55685.php
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6056736/why_women_should_do_farmers_walks.html?cat=50
