Deadlift is cutting up my right thumb

[mileena202]

I use a Texas Deadlift Bar and a hook grip for sumo deadlifts. I put two fingers on the smooth and the rest on the knurl. My right thumb tip touches the knurl, which is very aggressive, and creates a cut:



This does not happen at all to my left thumb. The cutting has happened the last three sessions.

Today, after it started bleeding, I shifted my hands a little inside, so three fingers were on the smooth, thus making my thumb tip not touch the knurl. Nevertheless, the blood burst open through the scab due the extreme pressure on my thumb, like a pimple popping. The hook grip on sumos is actually painless for me, even for my 1RM. But my thumb hurts after like when screwing the barbell collars on and opening a tube of toothpaste.

I don't like using a mixed grip because the barbell drifts, and top experts advise against that grip. I don't like using Versa Grips either, because that is like cheating.

The bleeding thumb is distracting to me, because blood gets on my ring finger and probably the barbell. So I am focused on that, and not the actual deadlift.

What do I do?

[TolerantLactose]

Tape your thumbs.

[mileena202]

Tape your thumbs.

This is awesome! I did not even know such a thing existed. I'm looking on amazon right now. Thank you!

[EDIT: My only concern is this will not be allowed in competition, but it should be good for training.]

[BeginnerGainz]

Using straps feels like cheating? Mixed grip accomplishes the same thing: they allow you to lift more weight than you could otherwise hold.

I’d just get a set of straps or tape your thumbs.

[Heisman2]

I would always put band-aids over any torn callouses when deadlifting and this worked well. However, my grip was never a limiting factor if I used chalk and a decent bar. You can do that for a while to let the skin heal if the tape itself isn't desirable for some reason.

[EliKoehn]

Straps would be cheating and the sumo stance isn't?

Jk.

It sounds like the tape solution is probably the way to go. Maybe if the cut was allowed to fully heal it wouldn't re-aggravate from continued lifting, but deadlifting toughens up the hands IME so I doubt it would recur once it's fully healed.

[mileena202]

Using straps feels like cheating? Mixed grip accomplishes the same thing: they allow you to lift more weight than you could otherwise hold.

I’d just get a set of straps or tape your thumbs.

Thanks @BeginnerGainz. Yeah, I don't like straps because they aren't allowed in competition. The problem I have with a mixed grip is that the bar drifts for me since the elbow of the underhand hand is pushed into the torso. So far, I can do as much with a hook grip as I can with mix for sumo. I used to use mix religiously, but since I started practicing hook, I find it works better for me. For conventional, I only use mix for a 1RM or close to it.

I would always put band-aids over any torn callouses when deadlifting and this worked well. However, my grip was never a limiting factor if I used chalk and a decent bar. You can do that for a while to let the skin heal if the tape itself isn't desirable for some reason.

That's a good solution until my order of hook grip tape comes in!

Straps would be cheating and the sumo stance isn't?

Jk.

It sounds like the tape solution is probably the way to go. Maybe if the cut was allowed to fully heal it wouldn't re-aggravate from continued lifting, but deadlifting toughens up the hands IME so I doubt it would recur once it's fully healed.

Thanka @EliKoehn! I know you were kidding, but the sumo does sometimes feel like cheating for me, but most of the top deadlifters do it. And the recent the Jeff Nippard video in response to Chris Bumstead dispels all the myths about sumo and concluded it is not cheating:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRYkhPBljYk

You actually develop the muscles just as much with sumo, just in different places, and the range of motion is only a few inches less. It is similar to benchers arching their backs to decrease ROM or using a wide grip.

And I think you are right about letting the thumb heal. I was supposed to do deadlifts tomorrow, but I am going to give my hands an extra day's break.