Find out if you need to use magnesium in the gym like professional weightlifters and powerlifters do with bodybuilders. In "iron" sports disciplines, sports magnesia is widely used. It allows you to increase the frictional forces between the surface of the sports equipment and the hands. Compared to chalk, which also has a high hygroscopicity, magnesia absorbs sebum much better.
If we talk about the chemical structure of magnesia, then this is a magnesium salt and is a white powder. As a result, when using sports magnesia, the dry friction coefficient sharply increases.
When should you use magnesia?
Athletes should use magnesium in cases where the surface of the shells or palms may be wet. This can be done after drinking a sports drink from a bottle or if you sweat heavily on the palms of your hands. Very often, the surface of the shells can be wet in the warm season due to the formation of condensation. To a greater extent, this applies to small halls in which a large number of athletes are present.
You can also recommend the use of sports magnesia when performing the following movements:
- Bench presses in the prone position.
- Squats.
- Deadlift.
- Bench press in a standing position.
- Pull-ups.
At the same time, you can safely do without magnesium during push-ups on the uneven bars, when performing lifts for biceps and while working with simulators. This is due to the fact that the probability of the shells slipping out is extremely small, but even if this happens, the probability of injury is reduced to zero.
Speaking about what sports magnesia is, it should be said about a relatively new form of this substance - liquid magnesia. After applying liquid magnesium to the surface of the palms, you must wait a few minutes until the solution is dry. In comparison with powdered magnesia, liquid is able to penetrate into the pores and its effect is increased. Also, unlike powder, the use of liquid magnesia does not lead to clogging of the room. In some rooms, it is allowed to use only the liquid form of the substance. In addition to power sports disciplines, magnesia is actively used in such an exotic sport for our country as rock climbing. The substance is placed in a special pouch on the belt behind the athlete's back.
In difficulty climbing competitions, magnesia is an indispensable element of the equipment of athletes and is periodically applied to the hands while covering the entire distance.
In bouldering, the tracks are significantly shorter and athletes often need to apply magnesium at the start. This makes it possible to somewhat reduce the weight of athletes, however, if it is necessary to reapply, the substance will no longer be available. It is for this reason that the liquid form of the substance is most often used in this form of climbing.
There is one type of rock climbing - speed, in which magnesia is applied exclusively at the start, since there is no time for its application during the passage of the route.
It should also be noted that during the difficulty competition athletes most often combine powdered and liquid magnesium. First, liquid is applied, and during the passage of the distance, if necessary, the athlete will use powder magnesia. Note that magnesium does not pose a danger to the body and the only negative point when using it is overdrying the skin of the hands. In addition, an individual allergenic reaction to the use of the substance is possible.
You will learn more about sports magnesia and its properties from this video:
