Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr In the “old days” of CrossFit you used to be able to dive right into a Workout of the Day (WOD) with nothing more than enthusiasm – but that’s really not how things go these days.No, today you need to load up on special accessories, a commitment, and dear to really make the most of your CrossFit experience, especially if you’re going to be competing in any of the annual CrossFit Games.And while there are literally hundreds and hundreds of different choices out there to pick and choose from, and dozens of “essentials” that you might want to add to your cross it collection ASAP, you’ll want to get your hands on quality wrist wraps ASAP.Yes, you’re reading that correctly. You’re going to want to get your hands on wrist wraps even before you get Olympic or powerlifting gear, special shoes, or technical fabrics that are going to help you push your athletic abilities to the limits.Here’s exactly why you want to get them before you get anything else. Sprain your wrists and you are out of commissionInjuries are absolutely devastating regardless of what the injury is, but if you cripple your wrists you aren’t going to be able to do ANY of the traditional CrossFit exercises – and that means you’re going to have to be parked on the sidelines until your wrists heal up.Worse than that though is the fact that your wrists aren’t going to heal up all that quickly, especially since you’re going to need to use them in some capacity as you go through your day to day life. This means you are going to be significantly sidelined for a lot longer than you ever would have thought you were going to be, and it’s going to end up as a real nightmare.With wrist wraps, however, you’re going to be able to prevent the stretching and or tearing of your ligaments, and you’re going to be able to better stabilize your joints so that you don’t have anything to worry about. By stabilizing your wrists you can go through repetitive motions, can lift heavier weights, and can really blast through WODs that you wouldn’t have been able to tackle otherwise. Safety equipment like wrist wraps should be your first investmentThere’s a reason why you’ll see all of the top performers at any of the CrossFit Games rocking and rolling with wrist wraps and other pieces of safety equipment locked in and ready to go before they attempt any movements that their wrists will be involved in.Safety equipment (as mentioned above) is going to help you stay safe, help you stay healthy, but it’s also going to help you push through all of your personal records and any physical limitations that you might not have been able to push through unless you Your ligaments and your attendance completely stabilized.The last thing that you want to have happen is for your wrist to pop in any way whatsoever. If that happens – especially in competition while you are going through the most intense movements you’ve ever pushed through – things are going to get really (REALLY) nasty and they’re going to get nasty and a hurry. Don’t worry – you won’t have to wear your wrist wraps all the timeIf you are a little bit on the fence about purchasing these critical pieces of CrossFit equipment the guns you don’t want to have them strapped to your hands at all times, don’t worry. That’s just not the case.Think of wrist wraps has back support and weightlifting belts for your upper body. You don’t have to wear your dead lifting belts all the time, but you do need to make sure that you have them close at hand so that you can slide one on before you get into the really heavy lifting.It’s always a good idea to get your hands on wrist straps that can attach together with Velcro and then maybe clipped to any belt or shorts that you are wearing a while you go through your CrossFit workouts. This keeps them close at hand so that you don’t have to waste any time, energy, or effort slapping them on before you get right after it. Make sure that you position your wrist wraps perfectly to make the most of everything that they have to offerEven the very best wrist wraps you can get your hands on are going to be next to worthless if you aren’t wearing them the way they are designed to be worn.If you’re going to provide yourself with the right amount of safety and support you need to make sure that you have secured them exactly where they need to be set up. You’ll want to have the wrist crease protected (right where your wrist meets your palm), but you’ll also want to make sure that you have tightened the wrist wraps appropriately so that they really lock you in and keep you safe. Should I be wearing these wraps if I have mobility or flexibility issues?The only time that you probably shouldn’t be wearing wrist wraps is when you have underlying mobility or flexibility issues that are going to be addressed by the exercises that you are actually undertaking.You’ll obviously want to make sure that you are going through the movements appropriately to strengthen these tendons and ligaments, and you want to make sure that you open up as much flexibility in your wrists as you’re able to – and that means you have to leave the wraps off.Closing thoughtsAt the end of the day, there’s a lot of different things you’re going to need to think about before you just dive right in to any CrossFit workout.You’ll need to make sure you’re doing so smartly, safely, and strategically – and purchasing (and using) the best wrist wraps available goes a long way towards helping you get the very most out of your athletic abilities.Be smart about using CrossFit wrist wraps and you’ll be able to unleash your inner athlete!