Do you ever feel like we don’t treat our bodies with enough respect until something goes wrong?

Knee pain can be caused from a variety of problems - these include injury, medical conditions or may just be due to natural wear and tear. The Mayo clinic states that knee pain can occur for a variety of reasons, including injuries or medical condition such as arthritis or gout.

One thing that many people do when they are struggling with persistent knee pain is to wear a knee sleeve. This can be really effective at providing temporary pain relief and functional support.

If you're looking for an article about knee sleeves, this is the one for you. You can expect to find more information on this subject, such as who will benefit most from using them, what the best brands are and how to care for them and pick the right size and material. Scroll down to learn more.

WHAT DO KNEE SLEEVES DO?

More and more people in the fitness world are starting to notice that knee sleeves have been gaining a lot of popularity. Their main benefit is the warmth and compression they provide to the knees which improves blood flow, stability, control and comfort when exercising.

Knee sleeves are a crucial part of any fitness-addict’s kit. They can help protect the angle of your joints and increase the body’s ability to sense its location, movements, and actions.

Working out (for example doing squats, snatches, or cleans) can be painful... until you put on some knee sleeves. They stimulate blood flow and help with discomfort too!

Knee sleeves can also be used post-workout because they aid in the recovery process by reducing swelling and minimizing pain. They’re very popular amongst CrossFit enthusiasts as they use them post-WOD to minimize post-exercise recovery.

THE BENEFITS OF USING KNEE SLEEVES

As we said before, knee sleeves can help alleviate pain relief. Out of all the benefits though, there are a few that we particularly love. They have thermal regulation qualities to provide relief from inflammation and they can reduce knee instability too.

1) KNEE SUPPORT

Wearing support gear specifically designed for our joints can help make workouts much more comfortable. For example, knee sleeves help protect our knees from overuse and provide a buffer between the pressure of the weights while still allowing joint mobility. Olympic weightlifters are one of many populations that find wearing said support gear to be worth it.

Knee sleeves allow you to perform better during squats and other lower body workouts by supporting and stabilizing your knee — they can be especially helpful if your knees need a little extra support.

2) KNEE COMPRESSION

Knee sleeves are best for keeping your knees warm and taking the pressure off them. This is because they compress your knee as well and it what makes them popular among athletes.

Compression knee sleeves are designed to warm up the impact area of your leg to regulate blood flow and help alleviate any pain.

3) KNEE RECOVERY

Knee sleeves are popular in CrossFit because they cut down on recovery time! They gently increase blood flow and reduce pain & swelling by blocking the cold. Knee sleeves are not meant to be used or worn as a brace. Above all, technique and form are always first. 

CHOOSING THE BEST KNEE SLEEVES

In order to pick the right knee sleeve for squats or leg workouts there are a lot of different factors you have to consider. You may be looking for Powerlifting knee sleeves, CrossFit knee sleeves, or simple compression sleeves. It all depends on your needs and wants.

Ultimately, they should all do the same job and provide support, compression, and recovery relief. 

Knee sleeves mainly come in different thickness. People who engage in powerlifting often use thicker knee sleeves to provide support, stability and reduce the chance of injury.

Knee wraps are consumable items that help give you power in the squat. With a similar material to wrist wraps, they can provide strength for lifters and bodybuilders.

CrossFit sleeves & compression knee sleeves come in various thickness options and are made of neoprene. These made-to-last items work to eliminate pain and swelling by holding & retaining heat.

Knee sleeves are primarily used for CrossFit training. They help with blood flow, stiffness, and reduces muscle fatigue. They're also a great choice for powerlifting, bodybuilding, weightlifting and cross-training.

HOW TO MEASURE FOR KNEE SLEEVES?

The most common question people ask when they're buying knee sleeves is how to measure and find the right fit. One question might be 'should knee sleeves for squats be tight?', which is also a valid one because it can sometimes be hard to get a good fit. However, there is an easy way to find the right compression knee sleeve size. 

Compression knee sleeves play an important role in injury prevention and treatment, so make sure that you find a pair that fits snuggly. It’s worth it for the level of support that you receive.

The knee sleeve should not be too tight so that it stops the blood flow or leaves a mark on your skin. To find the right size, you will need a ruler and string, or if you have a measuring tape, then this is best. Measure the circumference of your lower leg (between ankle and knee) in inches and then round up to the nearest inch.