Best Hip Thrust Pad – Hipsarmour
Currently, yoga mats and squat barbell pads are used in an attempt to protect the hips bones and pelvis while performing hip thrust (and glute bridge). However, these items have been designed and manufactured for a different purpose or application and not for the specific requirements that the hip thrust exercise demands in terms of protection and comfort. Barbell Pad Hip Thrust
Unlike squats where the barbell sits on top of several muscles providing a sort of cushion protection, when you perform the exercise hip thrust or glute bridge, the barbell is positioned between the lower belly and the pubic bone where there is minimal muscle tissue and therefore no protection against the barbell and the training weight.
If you feel pain or discomfort while exercising, your ability to engage the glutes and focus on the correct technique is highly interfered, negatively influencing your progress and results.
MATERIAL AND DESING
Every person has different hips bone and pelvic structure. The optimal material of a barbell pad should be flexible and soft enough to perfectly mold/shape into your unique anatomy.
On the other hand, the material must be strong, resistant, durable and with great pressure-absorbent capabilities to provide a pain-free and comfortable performance when exercising.
When it comes to pad design and ergonomics, not only comfort but functionality must be considered. The pad should be stable enough to be kept in place with minimum movement or rotation while exercising. The shape should allow for an optimal load displacement and pressure relief.
THICKNESS AND DIAMETER
The thickness of the pad is also an important factor to consider. Depending on the material with which the pad is made of, more or less thickness will be necessary to properly alleviate the pressure of the barbell. Usually, the more thickness, the better. However, thickness determines the pad´s diameter. If too large, the pad will generate a lot of uncomfortable pressure at the tight and belly when the hips are flexed (at the bottom, beginning of the movement) and, the large diameter won’t allow for a full range of motion, limiting hip flexion. Best Hip Thrust Pad
FOAM MATERIAL AND DURABILITY
Current yoga and barbell pads are made of cheap foam or foam covered in nylon. Although they fit into the requirement of being soft and flexible enough to suit every person bone structure, the material fail to protect the hips and pelvis with moderate to heavy loads, due to its poor capability to absorb pressure, which further decreases with usage. On top of that, foam doesn’t last long and deteriorates and crack quite fast.
0