Why knee sleeves should not be missing in your training bag?

Not only your wrists but also your knees are one of the most stressed joints when lifting weights.

There are a lot of squats version to put a load on your knee, but the power clean and the jerk put even more pressure on your knee.

That is the reason why knee sleeves are a common training accessory, that takes different tasks. In general, there are two major functional areas. On the one hand, it’s used to prevent injuries and on the other hand, it can also be used as a therapeutic tool for the healing process of knee injuries.

So as every therapeutical tool, knee sleeves should only be used therapeutical in accordance with a doctor or physiotherapist. If the knee continues to hurt over a long period of time, there is no way a knee sleeve can help and you should see a doctor.
There are a couple of knee sleeves, who work preventively to avoid pain and knee injuries.

Since there is not a lot of body fat and muscles located at the knee, the blood circulation of this joint is not very high.

But for the regeneration of the tissue and the healing of small injuries, good circulation is required. This can be achieved mainly through heat. Most sleeves are made of neoprene, a material known for its warming function. In addition, sleeves made of neoprene have a stabilizing effect.

The knee gets supported through the compression of the sleeve, the impact of the forces performing fast movements – what weightlifting is known for- gets mitigated. In this way risk of injuries is reduced.

When looking for the right knee sleeve, a few major facts should be kept in mind.

Joint mobility plays a major role in weightlifting, so the knee sleeves must not hinder or slow down fast movements such as the turnover during snatch or clean. This may happen if the sleeve simply does not fit because, for example, it is much too tight or slips.

Basically, it is important to ensure that the sleeve is anatomically shaped and adapts to the knee. There are different options for thickness, 5 mm and 7 mm have proven to be the most suitable for weightlifting. Every athlete still has to individually decide which thickness works best for him.

7 mm neoprene knee sleeves have an increased stabilizing effect compared to 5 mm knee sleeves. The focus is more on ensuring the greatest possible freedom of movement while simultaneously providing warmth and support.

When choosing the size, you should follow the tables provided by the manufacturer. Also, consider how often the knee sleeves are used per week. For those who use them for three or more workouts, it is recommended to order them one size smaller.

Now the knee sleeves have been in use for a while…. They fit perfectly, provide support during heavy squats and also minimize the risk of injuries due to their warmth.

However, heat also inevitably leads to an increased formation of sweat and therefore the sleeves also stink quite quickly. Now many are wondering if you can wash them, and especially how. If nothing to the contrary is specified by the manufacturer, you can safely put the knee sleeves in the washing machine. Wash either cold or at 30 ° with a little liquid detergent.

Avoid softener and too high temperatures, the neoprene is sensitive to heat so definitely no tumble dryer, just let them dry in the air. It is also recommended to air dry the sleeves after each workout, they should not be stored in the gym bag for a long time, because this could lead to unpleasant odors.

AVOID SOFTENER!

It would be desirable to wash the knee sleeves – also for the sake of your workout buddies – at least once a week, but at least every two to three weeks.

Even with regular care and high-quality fabrics, sleeves only have limited durability. With intensive use, stability and compression start decreasing after about a year. If you use your sleeves often, definitely check on their effectiveness after one year.

Max Lang expert tip: