how do people think about the benefits of forearm training. going after overall health of everything involved, but noticeably most of the hardcore stuff is flexor based, so i worry there isnt enough extensor in the day to keep up. Sure, i can do the golfer and tennis elbow exercises found on Youtube, but those seem very basic compare to the heavier lifting/training involved in arm wrestler/grip training arenas. specifically, looking at you pinch grip exercises!
At least google AI tends to say positive things about any of these exercises. for example "Strengthening the finger flexors and thumb muscles shifts the workload off the joint tendons"
AND
"Pinching forces a simultaneous engagement (co-contraction) of both the forearm flexors and extensors. This balanced activation stabilizes the wrist joint and prevents the tug-of-war effect that inflames elbow tendons"
AND
"Holding a pinch grip forces an isometric contraction. Static holds under load stimulate collagen synthesis and increase tendon density, making the tissue highly resilient to future strain"
AND
"By distributing the load differently than standard gripping, many lifters find that training pinch grip variants like the Sorinex Saxon Bar can help alleviate traditional elbow discomfort"
BUT
"Routinely targeting finger flexors without training the extensor muscles (the ones that straighten your fingers) creates a flexor-to-extensor strength imbalance, which makes finger tissues more susceptible to injury"
AND
"Yes, finger flexion strength helps prevent elbow tendonitis (such as golfer's elbow) by conditioning the forearm muscles that control your grip. Stronger forearm muscles reduce tendon fatigue and take excess mechanical stress off the bony attachment points at your elbow. Load Distribution: The thumb is responsible for a massive amount of your total grip strength. A strong thumb takes the burden off the rest of the forearm muscles A stable hand and thumb provide a strong, unified anchor for movements, preventing the elbow from absorbing excess shock during physical activity."