The forearm flexors and extensors require direct training for most people to reach their full muscular potential. Likewise, if you have lower arm injuries, then strengthening your muscles under the guidance of a physical therapist can improve your quality of life by reducing pain.
The Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer is a workout tool that claims to strengthen all the muscles in your forearms and fingers. So I decided to create a full review to assess the claims and decipher the pros and cons so that you can work out if it’s the right piece of gym gear for you.
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Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer features and benefits
The Marcy Wedge Pro has some definite advantages when it comes to strengthening and increasing the muscularity of your lower arms.
Adjustable resistance
While there are no specified resistance levels in lbs or kilos, you can adjust the tension via the convenient dial to make the exercises more or less challenging.
If you’re training your extensors, for example, which is to say wrist extension, then you’ll want to use a lower tension level because the extensors are usually a fair bit weaker than the flexors.
Unlike with regular forearm drills, you also don’t have to manually load weight discs onto this device. Naturally, this built-in convenience means that you can start training sooner and waste less time.
Comfortable fit
As you can see from the product images, this forearm wedge is specifically designed to fit around your lower arms. Because of this snug fit, the exercises feel natural and smooth because you don’t need to hold onto any external equipment.
You can also adjust the device to fit your particular forearm size. This is especially helpful if more than one person will be using your new Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer.
Some reviewers thought that this wrist blaster looked a bit gimmicky. And while it indeed looks different to most fitness equipment, anything that attaches to your forearm isn’t exactly going to look like traditional gym equipment, is it?
Dumbbells and weight plates are commonplace. But just because some people haven’t used this wrist developer or don’t care about their forearms doesn’t mean that this device is a lousy product.
Far from it.
This wrist forearm developer is a unique training tool that provides a genuine challenge for most people.
Convenient design
Whether or not this device looks like a kid’s toy is for you to judge.
That’s what a few other reviewers thought. But I actually think it looks quite snazzy.
Anyway, unlike regular weights, which of course have their place, the Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer is ultra convenient. No longer do you have to trek to the crowded gym just to work your forearms. You can use this helpful fitness tool whenever it suits you.
Increased grip strength
Did you know that grip strength is positively correlated with health and longevity? [1]
Our modern lives of seemingly endless computer work and shocking lack of physical activity aren’t exactly conducive to developing a firm grip. But just because you use technology (like virtually everyone) doesn’t mean that you need to be saddled with a weak grip.
By using the Marcy Wedge to strengthen your lower arms (the flexors and extensors), you’re simultaneously improving the strength of your gripping muscles. Regular forearm curls offer this dual benefit. So in this regard, our wrist forearm developer is actually better than traditional “bodybuilding” exercises because you can quickly train all the forearm functions in succession.
See also: Black Diamond Grip Trainer
Who is the Marcy Wedge for?
Some advanced users felt that the Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer lacked resistance during certain exercises. However, if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or are coming back after an injury, you can get a ton of mileage from this device.
Plus, forearm work is best done for high reps anyway. If anything, doing flexions and extensions with too much weight may actually hurt your wrists rather than strengthen them.
Physiotherapists
If you have patients with forearm issues but who don’t have access to weights or a gym, then this wrist and forearm developer can help them stay on track with their recovery.
Your clients are more likely to perform regular rehabilitation when the circumstances are conducive to their lifestyle. So in this regard, the Marcy Wedge is as convenient as it gets because you can use it absolutely anywhere.
Plus, because the device comfortably attaches to the forearm, there’s minimal injury risk to using it because you can’t suddenly drop the weight or overextend your joints, as is unfortunately the case with dumbbells and barbells.
Time-pressed lifters
If you want to visibly improve the appearance of your forearms but don’t have the time to train them in your regular workout, using the Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer at home is an excellent solution for ensuring that your arms remain in proportion.
Supersets are also incredibly easy to perform with the Marcy Wedge because you can change the resistance with your other hand while still wearing the device. Obviously, this built-in convenience means that you save time. But it also results in a better muscle pump because the quick weight changes won’t let your forearms off the hook.
Sports players
If you’re a basketball player, hockey player, or golfer, then the Marcy Wedge Pro can strengthen the key muscles that will allow you to get the edge over your opponents and set new personal records.
Strength is the obvious benefit. But you’ll also be able to maintain peak performance for longer by improving the muscular endurance of your forearms, fingers, and hands.
Moreover, simply working your lower arms outside of your particular sport will give you better control over your limbs and allow for enhanced performance.
Read more: wrist and forearm blaster
Conclusion: Is the Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer worth your money?
As you’ve hopefully learned in this Marcy Wrist and Forearm Developer review, this handy training tool is far from a gimmick. Marcy is well known for making high-end home gym equipment, but even this affordable Marcy Wedge is an excellent addition to their product line.
If you want to strengthen, rehabilitate, or improve the muscularity of your forearms, then the Marcy Wedge Pro is a great, cost-effective investment. Plus, unlike comparable training methods, you don’t need to go to a gym or buy free weights to enjoy the benefits.
Likewise, if you’re a sports person, then you can also get a ton of use from this Marcy Forearm Wedge. It enables you to isolate your lower arms and key gripping muscles so that you can develop a better swing, more control over the basketball, or a better hockey game.
Overall, it’s an innovative fitness tool, and while it might not be all that challenging for the biggest of bodybuilders, for the average person, the 5 tension levels more than suffice.
References
- Grip Strength as an Indicator of Health-Related Quality of Life in Old Age—A Pilot Study. (2017). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(12), 1447. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121447
- Smith, R. W., Mani, R., Cawley, M. I., Englisch, W., & Eckenberger, P. (1993). Assessment of tennis elbow using the Marcy Wedge-Pro. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 27(4), 233–236. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.27.4.233