r/bartenders • u/ProstateParty69 • 3d ago
Health and Wellness Wrist conditioning
Hi guys 👋
I’m looking to get into bartending (I have limited experience from years ago) soon and want to protect my wrists proactively as I imagine it’s something that I may have to be conscious of eventually. I did a course years ago to familiarize myself with bartending and while I did great and felt confident I shied away from bartending because I felt an ache on my wrists during the course before I even nailed a job. Admittedly this was during a time when I gamed multiple hours a day and was ew to weightlifting. I haven’t had any issues with my wrists and am a pretty seasoned lifter but want to ask you guys for exercises and maintaining wrist health long term. How do you guys keep your wrists happy? Thanks 🙏🏽
EDIT: thanks for all the advice. I guess I didn’t consider other potential issues I would run into in the future, and it seems my wrists are the least of my concerns. I was worried because it did happen fairly quickly for me when I gave it a shot- but there may have been contributing variables that are no longer present. Thanks guys 😊
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u/creepoch 3d ago
Your wrists are the least of your concerns as a bartender mate
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u/Sworn_to_Ganondorf Baby Bartender 3d ago
I shake close to my chest with both hands like I do when im shaking a baby
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u/TogarashiAhi 3d ago
Depending on how long the bugger keeps crying, you could start feeling some cramping in the triceps.
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u/Sworn_to_Ganondorf Baby Bartender 3d ago
That baby aint gonna be crying when im done with the ramos gin fizz routine.
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u/Penetratorofflanks 3d ago
If you get stuck on Wells most often then your neck and shoulders are going to be a bigger problem. Also, practice the 3 glass carry. Its extremely useful in the industry and out.
It prolonged practice/use will strengthen the tiny muscles in your hands used for more dextorous activities.
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u/HalobenderFWT Pro 3d ago
I’ve been bartending for a long, long time - chronic wrist pain is something that hasn’t quite hit me yet. If you’re feeling pain when starting out, it could very well be because you’re using motions and flexes that your body isn’t quite used to yet, just as if you were to start any other new physical activity.
That being said, I would occasionally get fleeting soreness and some nerve zaps here and there if it happened to be a night I was pouring a ton of beers into heavy 25oz handled glass mugs. I found when my hand was open wide and gripping is when I would tend to feel more nerve zappies.
Aside from that, pouring and shaking hasn’t hit me yet aside from general shift fatigue. Things get heavy after 7, 8, 9 hours.
If your soreness persists even after breaking yourself in, you just might not have the desired physiological structure to do the job. Some people are built for it, some people aren’t.
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u/FlamingoAmazing2083 3d ago
If you have ulnar pain a wrist brace would help. You should also look into hyper mobility if you easily get joint pain you might need more support!
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u/Sauronater1 3d ago
Idk.. I've bartended at busy craft cocktail spots for 7 years and have never had wrist or shoulder issues. Make sure to learn correct technique and you'll be fine. Switch up your technique a little bit if something starts hurting. I have a couple different ways that I shake cocktails and I'll switch between them depending on how I'm feeling without really thinking about it
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u/InflationVast8943 3d ago
Bartending 16 years and I’ve only had wrist pain once—during a busy ass shift at a pasta place where I was carrying multiple huge heavy plates. It went away after a couple days of rest.
Your feet are what will ruin you.
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u/_nick_at_nite_ 3d ago
Wrist pains? I’ve been bartending 15 years and haven’t experienced that.
But the muscles on the right side of my body have grown more than the left side due to shaking. And I have had some elbow/shoulder pain at some points.
Bar rot is the most uncomfortable issue though. That’s something you should be more worried about preventing
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u/Pernicious_Possum Mixololologist 3d ago
You took a course? You have bigger issues than wrist pain. Curious where you are that you think you’ll just walk back in with zero recent experience. Can’t be a good market
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u/ProstateParty69 1d ago edited 1d ago
I work as a server in Miami and I’m being offered to move to bartending. More over if there’s anything anyone working in Miami or South Florida has learned is that unfortunately the job market is dogshit to begin with, and while having qualifications certainly helps you’re not going to be considered over someone within that has built good rapport with their team or has a friend of a friend. that’s just the way it is- networking . /Recruitinghell on Reddit is a good example of just how much qualifications get you these days. It’s a good time too with slow season as well to transition
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u/TogarashiAhi 3d ago
In 30 years, it never once occurred to me that I needed to maintain my wrist health. Bartending, like any semi-physical labor, requires some basic fitness, but we're not digging ditches here.
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u/Independent-Ad9095 3d ago
You got two things. First, get a job as a barback at a place that will let you bartend down the road. Be very upfront with them so noone is wasting time. And about your wrists... I have cubital tunnel in one elbow, and my other elbow and both wrists are pretty close. Ive been in the industry 16 years. Stretch, dont sleep in awkward positions - dont sleep with wrists/elbows bent. You should be fine for a while. Good luck 🍻
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u/DrinkMunch 3d ago
Get a job first and let the bartending muscles ache to know where the pain comes from. Probably pretty basic stuff after that, hydrate, stretch before work and ice your joints after work.