How To Properly Take Care Of Your Gymnastics Bar
If you use parallel and uneven bars a lot, you will notice that your hands develop rips. They are usually very painful and can form blisters with blood in it.
A rip is a result of the tearing of the hand skin. Rips can cause a gymnast to lose a season in the sport. Therefore, there should be proper care taken on the gymnastics bar.
The gymnastic bar is a costly piece of equipment, and a lot of care is required to protect this equipment and avoid injuries to the gymnast.
In this article, we have highlighted some necessary safety procedures in how to properly take care of your gymnastics bar.
Contents
7 Safety Procedures to Maintain Your Gymnastic Bars
1. Regular Checkup for Tear
Maintenance is a daily affair. Before any gymnasts take to the swing on the gymnast bar ensure that you have checked the bars for any form of a tear. If a bar shows signs or gymnasts start complaining about difficulty with grips, then it is time to replace that gymnastic bar.
This prevention measures reduce the chances of the gymnastic bar collapsing while in usage; this can result in more fatal injuries.
2. Storage
Care should be taken when storing gymnastic bars. Avoid storing them in areas where they are exposed to water elements. Besides water elements, the gymnastic bar should not be in a place where they can be easily destroyed. When mounting check that the bars are firmly secured to the ground before any gymnast starts using them.
3. Grip Brush
A grip brush is a useful tool to brush off any excess chalk on the gymnastics bar. You should gently brush off chalk along the bar grain. If there any leather stitching avoid brushing near them.
Select a suitable quality grip brush that is recommended for gymnastic bars. Gymnasts use their hands a lot, and great care is needed on grip bars as they can cause serious injuries.
4. Use of Water
Water can be harmful to metal bars and lead to serious rusts. Water contains chemicals that can react with gymnastic bars which may result in a rough grip. If your gymnastics grip is wrapped in leather, then water is highly not recommended as it can lead to the leather rotting.
Check the warranty on your gymnastic bars as most companies have specific instructions on how to clean your gymnastic bar; they may refuse to repay if don't follow instructions.
Some athletes may have the disgusting habit of spitting on their grips. This does not only create a bad image for the gymnast but can damage the gymnastic bar.
5. Bags
You can dismantle you gymnastic bars and keep them in good, quality bags that prevent any contact with moisture. These bags maximize the storage space for gymnastic bags and are easy to carry when you are traveling. They also prevent premature damage to the gymnastic bars through wear and tear.
6. Proper Records
You do not need to be an accountant to do an appropriate bookkeeping. Buy a simple file and record equipment's once they are purchased. Manufacturers will usually indicate the lifespan of these home equipment so that you can easily replace them.
Record when you last replaced spare parts. Inspect the mats for any tear and ensure they are stored in a place absent of rodents. Replace them if necessary.
Do checkout this article if you have decided that it is time to get a new one.
7. Cleaning
You can use vinegar to remove chalk dust and clean off mats. Where there are pins and spin-snap locks, use a solution of graphite or a graphite pencil to clean the parts. The gymnastic rails can be cleaned using Velcro to get chalk from them. Water is not recommended as it can make your gymnastic bar warranty null and void.
The gymnastic area should be vacuumed on a daily basis to avoid the accumulation of dust and rid of any sharp objects. Water use should be at a minimum because it can cause a lot of injuries by creating a slippery floor.
Conclusion
Injuries are very common in the gymnastics area, but they can be avoided by following the above mentioned guides on how to properly take care of your gymnastics bar. Gymnastics rips are the major cause of concern for any gymnast as they prevent you from continuing with the sport.
The gymnastic bars often come with a warranty with specifications on methods of cleaning. This should be clearly followed to the letter to prevent your warranty from being cancelled.
Many of us are used to using water to do most of our cleaning. However, when it comes to the gymnastic water can be very harmful. Steel bars are subject to rust and molds if subjected to water elements. Wooden bars also can rot when water is used to clean them.
Coaches should allocate a cleaning role with proper records. This makes it easier to supervise whether work has been done or not. They should also ensure that gymnasts do not use the bars before proper cleaning has been done.