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The 5 Best Ways to Improve Your Squat

February 15, 2017 By Philip Leave a Comment

Why Squat?

If you have strength trained in any capacity you have probably been told that squatting is the best exercise out there. Actually, men and women of all ages and with all different types of training goals can benefit from squatting.

Squatting is predominantly a lower body exercise. It also requires the involvement of just about every muscle in your body. When you perform a barbell squat, you will get muscle recruitment from your hands all the way down through your toes. This is one of the many reasons that squatting is such a good strength builder. Aside from being a way to add on some serious strength in the weight room, squatting has countless other benefits for life outside the gym. Developing a strong barbell squat will improve your overall athletic ability. After all, strength is going to be the base for everything that you do athletically. Improvements in core strength [1] and stability [2] will also be seen from consistently (and properly) performing barbell squats.

Once you decide to take that step and get underneath the barbell, your life will forever be changed. You will finally become excited about leg day and your new goal in life will be to squat better. Just like anything in life, it takes time, the longer you do it, the better you will get. However, there are some really easy ways to improve your squat that can be applied to your training right now. If you have been squatting for 15 years or 15 days, try following these training tips and become a better squatter.

There are the 5 best ways to improve your squat

Stay Tight

It’s important to stay relaxed and in control, but before you begin the eccentric phase of the squat, it’s time to tighten up. When I say tighten up, I mean tighten up everything. You don’t want to lower the bar with all your muscles loose, then the second you come out of the hole and begin to stand, you snap all your muscles together and spastically tighten up now. Everything should be tight as soon as you begin you descent. I always run through the following list of ques with my clients on the barbell squat: stay tight; grip, shoulders, core, quads. This will help keep your muscles activated and keep yourself more stable.

Breathe Right

One of the first things that you should learn when barbell squatting is how to breath properly. So, if you haven’t done so, it’s time to start implementing the Valsalva maneuver. The Valsalva maneuver is performed by inhaling at the top of the standing position, before you begin the eccentric phase of the lift. While holding your breath, use that air in your lungs to forcefully press against your chest wall. This will create an extremely stable core. Exhale during the concentric phase once you have passed your “sticking point”. Once you have returned to the standing position, then repeat.

Focus on the Positive

Staying in the right mental state during a heavy squat will benefit you tremendously. When you get under the bar, stand up, then walk back, never think to yourself “this is really heavy”. This negativity will set you up for failure. Don’t think about how heavy the bar is, because if you have any type of respectable squat, the weight will always be heavy. Even your warm-up weight is most likely pretty heavy. So don’t let these negative thoughts enter your mind. You should only think about driving that bar up. Even during the eccentric phase you should be thinking about exploding through the floor and driving the bar up.

Shoes

Your running shoes may look great and be extremely comfortable, but they are for running, not for squatting. For squatting you will want a shoe with a hard, uncomfortable sole. The idea is to have the most solid surface as possible between your feet and the floor. When you get under the bar and begin the eccentric (lowering) phase of the squat, you are preparing yourself to reach full depth and then power up through your feet to return back to the standing position. When you are wearing running shoes and you begin powering up through your feet, the first movement you make is not actually up, it’s down. When you begin to push into your shoes, your feet will actually sink into the soft sole until it can’t sink any farther, then at this point, you will finally begin to drive the bar up. Make sense? With a hard sole shoe your feet have nowhere to sink into. Now the first movement that you make when you press of the floor is straight up. This may seem like a small detail, but wasted movement is wasted energy and this is something that you can’t afford when trying to squat at your best.

Knee Sleeves

Last, but not least, wearing a pair of quality knee sleeves while you’re squatting is a simple way to improve your squat. A good set of knee sleeves will allow your body to move more efficiently. Sleeves will reduce the time it takes to get your knees warm which will let you focus on other things like, breathing and staying tight. They will provide your knee joint with support and stability, but the reason that I always recommend sleeves for when moving heavy weight is recovery. The best way to add weight to your squat is to be consistent.

What good does it do if you have a great squatting session, but your knees are so sore that you can’t squat heavy again for three weeks? A high quality pair of knee sleeves will provide sufficient compression and allow maximum blood flow through the legs. Get blood moving into your muscle and get waste moving out of the muscle. This equates to greater recovery and lets you get back in the gym and hit it hard again!

If you have been training for years and already have an epic barbell squat, I would imagine that you are already doing most, if not all, of the tips in this article. If you aren’t an epic squatter, then adding any of these tips to your squatting routine will surely set you on the right path. Remember that combining all of these tips will not make you a better squatter unless you are consistent. So, get under that barbell and improve your squat!

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Protect your Knees with the Best Compression Knee Sleeve

February 7, 2017 By Philip Leave a Comment

Intense exercise can wreak havoc on your knees. You want to do everything you can to prevent injury, and to mitigate any injury you are recovering from. That is when you need to utilize the benefits of the best compression knee sleeve. Best compression knee sleeve is used to offer support, compression, and warmth to the knee to protect it against injury when exercising. Many top athletes and fitness trainers use knee sleeves for themselves and those they help during training.

One of the best parts of knee sleeves is that they are very simple and easy to use, they are fairly inexpensive, and are available in a variety of sizes. You want to ensure that you choose one that fits correctly; otherwise you can either hurt yourself or not get the maximum amount of benefit from the best compression knee sleeve. When choosing a knee sleeve, you will want to visit the brand’s website. Many of these websites will offer a size chart so that you can make sure you are getting the right knee sleeve for you. Brands may vary slightly, so checking with them is the best way to make sure you get the right one.

It is also good to keep in mind the difference between knee sleeves and knee braces. Knee braces are more used for when you have an injury that is in the process of healing. The knee sleeve cannot do what a brace was meant to do.

When can you use a compression knee sleeve?

Generally, a knee sleeve will provide you with the basic protection you need when exercising. They are also great for those with mild knee pain, sprains, arthritis, weakness in the knee, tendinitis, cartilage irritation or knee swelling. If you have any of these symptoms, you will want to consult with your physician to determine if a knee sleeve will provide you extra comfort and protection from further injury.

Even more than providing support to your knee to prevent injury or to help pain, knee sleeves can help your knee retain heat. This can boost the circulation to the knee joint, and promote healing. There are many benefits to using the best compression knee sleeve. However, if you have more severe pain, you may need more advanced or elite protection.

There are some that even say utilizing a knee sleeve can actually improve your performance. This is especially true for weight lifters. When you are lifting a good amount of mass, it can put a lot of pressure on your knees, and potentially cause harm. That is where the best compression knee sleeves can help. They are excellent support for squats, the snatch, or the clean and jerk. If you are lifting and your knee is left weak and vulnerable, you will want to use a knee sleeve to help protect it.

What are the different types of knee sleeves?

There are a few different categories of best compression knee sleeves. They each have their own benefits, and some are preferable to others.

Open knee sleeves – These types of knee sleeves have a hole in the front where your knee is exposed. This reduces pressure through the kneecap and allows air to reach your knee to help with circulation.
Closed knee sleeves – These are complete all the way around your knee. They provide complete support and allow for more heat retention.
Inbuilt stabilizers – Some knee sleeves can be open or closed, but also provide side stabilizers. These side stabilizers provide more support for knee ligaments.

Although these are the general types of knee sleeves, there are other possible variations as well. They can be made to slide on the knee, or close with Velcro that wrap around your knee.

What are some of the best compression knee sleeves?

There are many knee sleeves that you will come across. Listed here are some of the best compression knee sleeves that have been determined by consumers. They take into account performance, stability, and durability.

KASP Fitness 7mm knee sleeve – The KASP Fitness brand is one of the top selling brands. This particular model is well liked by consumers. It helps prevent injury, rehabilitate injured knees and increases your performance, all the while protecting the knee from further injury. This closed knee sleeve is great for any type of activity you do and provides all the compression you need.
McDavid HexPad Extended Compression leg sleeve – If you want even more support, this sleeve extends down into the mid-calf. It gives the compression and performance needed for any high level athlete. It is recommended highly by many sports athletes, such as basketball and football.
Rehband Core Line 5mm knee sleeve – This Rehband is a sleeve that is also a great choice for athletics and rehabilitation. This knee sleeve is known for being a good, tight fit giving the perfect amount of compression and warmth. It can be used to enhance performance or for a recovery effort.
Shock Doctor Knee compression sleeve – As one of the best compression knee sleeve, it is from of the companies with the most experience in this area and has been around a long time. With all of that experience, they have nearly perfected the knee sleeve. These products are rugged and durable, and always accomplish what they are made for.
Copper Joint compression knee sleeve – As a copper infused knee sleeve, it is a great option for temperature regulation. This means it can protect your knee from becoming too hot or from going into a cold shock after your workout. This is great for athletes, those recovering from knee injury, or those looking for extra support for the knee. This knee sleeve caters to those looking for compression and protection. It will upgrade your performance as well. It is also extended to the high-calf.
VIPER compression full length knee sleeve – This excellent knee sleeve is full length from mid-thigh through the ankle offering the most support. If you are looking for a knee sleeve that will stay in place no matter your activity, this is an excellent choice. It will stay in place for an entire game, increase your performance and offer support. It is highly rated and is at a decent price for what you get.
McDavid knee support sleeve – The McDavid provides great warmth to help increase the circulation around your knee. In turn, this helps lead to quicker and less painful recovery from injuries. It is made with high quality neoprene and will stay in place while you wear it.
CompressionZ knee sleeve – This is a great option for a great price. With excellent support, it reaches a bit further up and down the leg. It is insulated and offer a great fit for stability. Equipped with special stitching, you will find that your mobility is not compromised when using this best compression knee sleeve.

How to determine whether to use a knee sleeve?

There are many reasons why you should use a knee sleeve. It can improve your performance, protect your knee from injury, and help heal from knee injuries. The type of activity you plan on doing, and the type of support you think you will need influence the type of knee sleeve you want to purchase. You will want to do your research to determine which knee sleeve to try that will work best for your situation.

One of the reasons for choosing to use a knee sleeve is the common overuse injury of patellar tendinitis. This occurs when you repeat stress on your patellar tendon that can lead to injury. Arthritis is another common injury. This is when the cartilage of the knee is worn down. These injuries can be supported by the use of best compression knee sleeves and can reduce pain every day.

Knee weakness and instability is another reason to utilize the benefits of a knee sleeve. This includes minor knee sprains and swelling. But the best way to use a knee sleeve is for prevention. Weight lifters and athletes can prevent common injuries to the knees just by adding a knee sleeve to their exercise uniform. The support, compression and heat can keep the knee from getting injured in the first place.

Many athletes have different knee sleeves for different purposes, and try various ones to find the one they love. You too will be able to easily find the best compression knee sleeve for you.

Neoprene Knee Sleeves Everything You Need To Know

January 11, 2017 By Philip Leave a Comment

Neoprene Knee Sleeves

As old age catches up, our body tends to give way. It suffers from lack of bone mineral density, aches, weak joints and pain of chronic types. This brings about plenty of discomfort especially on the knee area. Neoprene knee sleeves are the answer to such predicaments.

Over the years many women have been using knee sleeves to their advantage. Since it is the material that makes this type of knee sleeves the best there is. Once you get the right size and the right quality fitting, then you are good to go.

Things you need to know about neoprene knee sleeves

First you need to know that knee sleeves and knee braces are very different. A knee sleeve offers some support even with an injury or works to prevent the knee from any injury that may arise while knee braces protect a previous injury from further endangerment. A knee sleeve can work up to healing your injury and allow training and at the same time prevent any other injury from ever occurring while training. For most power lifters this one is more appropriate for them since it increases performances while at the gym.

Knee sleeves also add a very valuable compression factor that increases blood flow, reduces pain on and off performance, preventing further injury and facilitating great workout moments for you any day any time. Getting a good knee sleeve is really important to you since it will contribute a lot to your health.

The best knee sleeves have been made with a thicker fabric that works to offer more support without fear of tearing. This goes to about 7mm thickness with an anatomical shape to support fit and increase an athlete’s performance. Also they should be less bulky and less elasticized, since it will be quite hard to achieve the exercise without pain factor. Neoprene knee sleeves achieve this by far.

They ensure that the chance of your quadriceps tendons from detaching is minimized. By offering pain management while on injury, some of the power lifters have an increased speed at which they go up and down, with 45% going down and 20% going up in an eccentric phase. Neoprene knee sleeves meet the stringer needs of any athlete using them. With these and a little knowledge on the benefits you will be able to consider buying one for yourself.

Benefits of neoprene knee sleeves

Why neoprene? Some may argue there are quite a number of knee sleeves out there at affordable prices and are still of good quality. Here are a few benefits that can help you learn a little more about the knee sleeves as well:

Injury prevention

With neoprene injury is prevented or minimized. How is this so? Neoprene knee sleeve is a good fit. It provides comfort and safety for anyone training the body to be fit or weight training without having to be bothered by the injuries.

Injury prevention is achieved with the right amount of warmth held by the neoprene material. It keeps the joint from damage since they would be shielded from cold. When joints are exposed to cold temperatures, some pain will start to develop and they will be prone to any injury. The best way to cure any knee injury or even prevent one from occurring is by ensuring that they are warm. You can easily carry on with your activities without the fear any injuries.

Mild compression

Neoprene knee sleeves are designed to offer stability to the knee while training is on or even after a surgery. Doctors mostly prescribe this during physiotherapy and physiological treatment. All the gentle effects it offers on the knees are quite outstanding which makes it the best knee sleeves there is.

Neoprene knee sleeves work with the proper warmth to keep the pain that may have been on the knees away bringing them down to a large extent. Also the compression it gives on the knees ensures that they are intact while doing heavy lifting or training in the gym.

Another factor on compression is that a good knee sleeve presents proper compression. It is responsible for quite a number of things. For instance in a knee sleeve, Compression facilitates proper blood flow any time you are practicing.

Proper and improved blood flow ensures that no injury will occur and also in case you have an injury then you will recover at a faster rate than before. The mild compression that Neoprene knee sleeves achieve follows the concept of compression plus blood flow resulting in amazing training and enhanced recovery of a knee injury.

A video posted by KASPfitness (@kaspfitness) on Dec 13, 2016 at 3:06pm PST

Variety

To many, when pain strikes, they either stop training or reduce their training sessions. They consider it as a low-styled moment because of the pain they experience. That doesn’t have to be the case since neoprene knee sleeves have you covered any time you need to carry on with your training sessions.

They break the stereotype notion of low moments with various options and styles to choose from. For instance open and closed patella. The former is quite common in clients who are currently using the knee sleeves.

The durability is highly praised with great reviews across the internet. These knee sleeves are designed to last longer than most expect they would. They are likely to take you throughout the healing process of your injury and also serve you after getting well as you train. In short before you bring yourself to buying another one you will have been quite attached to this one already.

While others like the knee braces and the ankle braces as well are trying to make rounds at the market, neoprene has already had its popularity and is making history as the best knee sleeves. So when it comes to varieties, neoprene has you covered.

Easy maintenance

Another factor that people get wrong is the ‘hard to maintain knee sleeves’. They are not really that hard to maintain. It’s just the assumption that people have that discourages many to buy any of the knee sleeves available. With neoprene, maintenance is very simple even for those with a busy life, like from work to gym without time to inspect the knee sleeves. It pioneers against the thought of high maintenance with a really simple process of maintenance.

First before everything you should know that it is very important to keep the knee sleeves clean. This is one factor that can’t be achieved by mere daily washing of the knee sleeves since the odours will still remain even after washing. The best approach would be by selecting a neoprene sleeve that gives you equally the best comfort you require. With a combination of aesthetics, comfort, affordability and uber-functionality, you can achieve the training you hope for.

As for mobility, neoprene has you sorted. If your injury restricts your mobility, these knee sleeves can be worn to supress the pain and allow to walk like no injury ever occurred and with time you will start to feel less pain on the knee as an indication that you are healed.

Neoprene knee sleeves sizing

This type of knee sleeves may prove to be the hardest items to get an accurate size online since you will be required to try them on before buying a pair. This is mostly because you may lack a point of reference especially if they are your first knee sleeves. However, if you are looking for the one that best fits you and the one that works correctly for you then here are a few things you need to know:

If the sleeves are loose they are likely to slide down your leg automatically. Therefore you need to try them on to ensure they fit and that there is no room left for them to freely manoeuvre.
If they are excessively tight, they will be quite painful to put on especially if you have an injury. They will most likely restrict your activity while training and will add more pain instead of reducing it. Remember the goal is to achieve comfort while training and with tight knee sleeves this becomes quite hard to achieve.

The best way one can measure a knee sleeve is by measuring the circumference of the widest part of the knee. This is possible with the use of the sizing charts which help you decide which mode you may require and which knee sleeve size range your knee size lies.

Knee sleeves have various price ranges depending on where you are buying and what type you are buying. The best way to achieve comfort while training is to get the best knee sleeves. Neoprene knee sleeves achieve whatever it is you hope for while you are going for training. Even if you have an injury you will be able to carry on your daily activities without much worry. Get yourself a pair of neoprene knee sleeves and enjoy easy mobility at the most affordable price.

Weight Lifting Knee Sleeves Guide

December 8, 2016 By Philip Leave a Comment

Strenuous workouts come with joint pain and longer recovery periods. If you are involved with, or considering workouts that include weightlifting, Cross training, or lots of jumping like basketball, protecting your knees with weight lifting knee sleeves may be for you.

These flexible tight fitting sleeves supply warmth and compression to the vulnerable knee joint. They are designed to help prevent injury. By supporting the knee, weight lifting knee sleeves allow heat to surround the knee, helping reduce pain, increase blood flow, and bring vital oxygen and other nutrients to the knee joint. They can also improve the recovery time from your workout. There is no substitute for proper technique, and proper alignment should be your priority, but knee sleeves can help you maintain that alignment.

Who Should Use Weight Lifting Knee Sleeves

If you’re just starting out with weightlifting, you don’t need knee sleeves unless you are experiencing some form of knee pain. Learning the correct techniques and body posture should be your goal. This will aid in keeping your knees from damage in the first place. The amount of weight you’re lifting also will not be enough in the beginning to require knee sleeves. Only after a year or so of lifting and increased weight amounts are knee sleeves recommended. Lifting is heavily reliant on knee movement, so as your weight levels increase, sleeves will help.

If you’re involved in an exercise routine that involves lots of bending or jumping, then knee sleeves are something you should consider. These exercises include cross training, basketball, squats, the snatch, clean and jerk, and volleyball. Since these routines involve lots of contraction of the knee joint, which brings more wear and tear on the joint, more protection is needed to keep it aligned. Weight lifting knee sleeves provide proper support of your patella and can also reduce swelling caused by these activities.

Benefits of Weight Lifting Knee Sleeves

The main benefit of knee sleeves is the protection of the knee. The support and restriction of patella movement greatly decreases the risk of injury. The decrease in swelling and pain along with faster recovery are also great advantages.

Knee sleeves also help reduce wear and tear on knees due to the repetitive movements in high-impact sports. They also help when transitioning to heavier weight lifting. For outdoor activities, they help warm joints faster in cold weather and keep them that way. They help support your knees on rest days with enhanced blood flow and can aid in warding off injuries that you may have had little warning sign of during a workout.

When to Not Use Knee Sleeves

Knee sleeves shouldn’t be used to replace proper warm-ups. By taking care of all your other muscles, your knees will last longer as well, even without a sleeve. Proper form and technique are key to any good exercise routine. You want to be in control of positioning your joints, not letting the sleeve do that. Once you have created the habit of good form, the sleeve can assist you in staying there.

Don’t use knee sleeves to replace recovery days. Recovery times vary for different people and for different activities. While knee sleeves can help keep the blood flowing better on your recovery days, your body still needs to recover. There’s more to recovery than just your knees. And any outside accessory will not repair your insides.

First day back after flue only short on weight by 5 pounds not bad #fitness #workout

A video posted by KASPfitness (@kaspfitness) on Dec 1, 2016 at 8:41am PST

What Kind of Knee Sleeve Is Best?

If you’ve decided that knee sleeves will assist in helping protect your knees, the question becomes which ones to purchase. There are many different weightlifting knee sleeves on the market and lots of recommendations from top athletes. Here are the things you should consider when buying knee sleeves.

Comfort – First, they should be comfortable. You want to measure your knee carefully to get the correct size. The fit should be snug, but not too snug. They should compress and feel warm. They should support. Make sure to try the sleeve on before you buy it to make sure it fits and feels right.

Durability – No matter how often you will be using your knee sleeves, you want them to stand up to the test. The more you will be using them, the more durable you want them to be. Buying a cheap sleeve doesn’t do you much good if it falls apart in a couple of months.

Material – Most knee sleeves are made of neoprene. It hugs your leg tightly and allows the heat to stay in. But if you have allergies, you may want to consider cloth sleeves as an alternative. These provide more compression than warmth, but could be the right material for you.

Style – Some people make this a priority. Weight lifting knee sleeves come in different colors, though not usually from the same company. Most companies only offer one or two colors, black or grey. If color really matters to you, they are out there. You may just have to look a little harder.

Price – Knee sleeves run between $40 and $100 a pair. The price difference does help in determining how long they may last. Better made sleeves cost more. The lower end sleeve will serve you well, but the lifespan may not be as long. Determining how often you’ll wear them can help determine how much you want to spend on them.

One of the most popular brands of knee sleeves is Rehbands. They’re a great quality sleeve that provides endurance and protection. They can run around $95 a pair. They’re good for any type of activity – A great all around sleeve. KASP knee sleeves are top quality. They’re great for power lifting, Olympic lifting and squats. Long lasting and a consumer favorite, they run around $50. Live up sports brand offers multiple colors on the trim of the sleeve. They’re a great middle-of-the-road sleeve good for general purposes and run around $30 a pair. These are just some of the many brands available. Whatever brand you choose, you may want to get two pairs. Neoprene keeps in more than just heat. It keeps in odor as well. You will want to air and wash your sleeves regularly so having a second pair makes sure your workouts don’t get delayed.

If you’re considering weightlifting competition, you may want to buy sleeves that are a size down from what you normally wear. Some lifters claim that they can lift 15-20 pounds more because of the pop you get from this. For medal placing events, this can make a difference. But the smaller sleeves should only be used for competitions, not training. Regular wear of too small of a sleeve will make your legs fall asleep.

Myths About Weight Lifting Knee Sleeves

While wearing smaller knee sleeves for competition weightlifting can increase the amount of weight you lift, some people believe that knee sleeves increase their regular performance. Not really. Studies have shown that knee sleeves may increase the amount of weight you lift by only 1-2%. And this is providing you wear them for 24 hours a day after your workout. This means that if you’re currently lifting 300 pounds, you may increase by three to six pounds. A “Fran” time of 2:30 minutes will improve to between 2:27 and 2:29 minutes. The only way to truly improve is with regular increase of your workouts. The sleeve may help you feel more confident, allowing you to push yourself more therefore achieving better performance, but that comes from you. Not the knee sleeve.

Another myth about weight lifting knee sleeves is that because the fabric bunches up behind your knee when you’re at the bottom of a squat, the extra fabric will push your kneecap forward by millimeters with every set. This could end up causing future knee pain. There is no evidence to support this myth.

One myth that is true is that you can become dependent on knee sleeves. By thinking that they improve your performance or will allow you to escape all injury, knee sleeves can become a crutch. Keeping your knees healthy will decrease your need for knee sleeves. Once again, proper technique and posture should be your fitness goal. And only regular increases in your routines will help you improve your levels. Let knee sleeves enhance your performance, not control it.

Enjoy life

High-impact sports are great exercise and lots of fun. And they can come with some unwanted aches and pains. Weight lifting knee sleeves can help reduce the impact these activities have on the body. When you protect your body, you enjoy your life more. If knee sleeves help you do that, use them.

Powerlifting Knee Sleeves Expert Help and Advice

November 23, 2016 By Philip Leave a Comment

At times we are forced into working out programs by circumstances. It may be your physician or physiotherapist who pushed you into lifting because a certain situation demanded. Though many powerlifting champions claim to have indulged in the activity due to sheer fun or passion, not all of them end their lifting activities well. Once in a while, you will hear someone complaining of knee pains when lifting weights or squatting. Well, these complaints can be attended to medically though it is advisable to prevent such knee problems from cropping up. To do so, you need to invest in a pair of quality powerlifting knee sleeves.

Why should you wear powerlifting knee sleeves?

From your fans, family to your gym instructor, everyone knows how strong you are. However, the weights you are lifting do not care how powerful you are. By listening to the crowd, you will end up powerlifting as an ego boost not caring about your limbs. In a nutshell, powerlifting has an impact on your limbs especially the knee joints. This can be explained further by the following statement “the more powerlifting you do, the more the pressure exerted to your knees.” If you listen to your body during your workout, you will be able to detect any knee pain however slight it is. If you assume the pain as a warning bell, then be prepared for a more dangerous knee problem called tendonitis.

Now you see the reason to have a pair of knee sleeves. Below are more reasons that will change your mind when it comes to sleeves.

Essential in preventing any knee injuries
Help your knee injuries recover faster
Designed to reduce any knee swelling
Provide mechanical support during powerlifting especially to the patella
They play a crucial role in the improvement of your lateral stability

Types of powerlifting knee sleeves

Everyone has a unique taste when it comes to picking sleeves. However, your preferences are allowed only to the optional aesthetic features. When it comes to functionality, the choice comes from your physiotherapist alone. Sleeves can be categorized by the material they are made of or by their designed functionality. Have a look at the following types.

Manufacturing-material

Cloth – As you know, any cloth is manufactured to keep you warm. Same with cloth sleeves, they not only offer compression forces to your tensed knees but try keeping you warm during the entire powerlifting session. Cloth sleeves are the best if your training schedule is regularly done in the morning hours with a number of resting breaks.

Neoprene – Being considered by Olympic powerlifting persons as the best material, neoprene is praised for its high compression to the knee. It actually prevents any injury from happening to you. Still, it keeps your knee warm while losing less heat to the environment.

Designed-functionality

Open-knee sleeve – This sleeve has a well-positioned hole at its front. The function of this hole is reducing the amount of pressure applied on the knee while still letting your sleeved knee breathe and get aerated properly.

Closed knee sleeve – This sleeve is closed to facilitate more heat retention. Still, it offers more structural support to your knee reducing cases of injuries.

Sleeves with in-built stabilizers – Have you ever considered the amount of pressure that is subjected to your knee ligaments every time you powerlift? Well, it is time you purchased knee sleeves with in-built stabilizers since they help you provide your knees with extra support.

Now that you know the different types of powerlifting knee sleeves, you can arrange to have a pair. You can do this alone or by the help of a physician. Independent of how you do it, there is a common way of measuring sleeves perfect for you. Have a look at it below.

Measuring powerlifting knee sleeves

First, have a flexible tape at your reach
Measure 15cm exactly from the center of your selected limb’s knee cap
Ensure that your knee is at around 30 degrees of flexure
With the tape, measure accurately the entire circumference of your knee
Once you have measured, check if there is a size that matches your measurement
If available, pick it. In not, size down to the nearest sleeve

One thing that you are sure of is that you cannot be uncomfortable. Being a powerlifting champion, you need to invest in a pair of quality sleeves that will not only offer you support but enough warmth during your practices. Once you have settled for a particular sleeve, you may need to schedule when to wear them and when not. Well, you definitely have grown from an amateur lifter to a pro with time. Your body too and knees to be precise have accustomed to various pressures.

If you are planning to lift less than you do, then you may consider wearing less tight sleeves but never throw them away however light the weight may be. If you intend to lift more than you do, then be prepared with tight sleeves since your knees will be subjected to more pressure than they have handled before. The big question is, can you train your knees with different powerlifting knee sleeves?

As long as their structural design is of top quality, you can use any sleeve. Most sleeves absorb sweat leaving your limb free from any moisture that may put off your fans or turn your activity into a mess. If purchasing them online, remember to check their quality standards with regards to international bodies like Olympic specifications among others.

How to purchase a pair of quality sleeves

First, you need to make a tough decisions. Among the questions you need to ask yourself include:

Will you use them when lifting daily?
Are you planning to be an pro or armature athlete?
Do you have records of previous injuries or suffering from any ailment?

Once you answer the above questions, then you will be at a better level of picking the right sleeves. There are a number of things to consider when picking sleeves.

Check and compare knee sizes

Is your knee size available in the store? If yes pick the sleeves. If not, scale down to the nearest size. There have been claims that companies are manufacturing powerlifting knee sleeves of a certain range of sizes while neglecting others. This may be due to the increased demand of the sizes while only a small percentage of the market needs extreme sizes like extra small or super large.

Have a budget

It is not astonishing to find knee sleeves of the same quality being sold by different merchants at different prices. What distinguishes them however is the brand. Some are cheap and affordable while others are expensive. Depending on your budget, you need to pick the sleeves that won’t dent your savings or affect your expenditure.

Moreover, you many need to purchase online a sleeve that best suits your specifications. Though its prices can be a little bit high, shipping it to your place will be convenient. While most reputable merchants ship sleeves at no cost, others charge a fee. Be ready for such costs while making your budget.

Arrange for consultation

Depending on the purpose of your knee sleeves, you need to consult a specialist. First, you may consult your trainer regarding a pair of lifting knee sleeves. Being a trainer, he or she must have come across a number of sleeves in relation over time. It is such exposure that brings about experience and expertise. If you seek advice, you will be provided with adequate information that will come in handy when picking a sleeve.

Still, you can consult a physiotherapist who has examined your knee and heard of your powerlifting activity. Being an experienced medical practitioner, you will be advised on the best sleeve features that will suit you.

Pick a good color

When it comes to color, you now need to approach a fashionista who has been in the powerlifting industry. Having seen different designs and colors, they will pick a color depending on a number of factors. First, they need to analyze the theme of the event in which you will take part with your powerlifting activity. Picture yourself in a pink sleeve among people with dull colors. This slight color mishap can affect your morale ending up breaking your spirit.

So have a fashionista at your side. You will not only pick sleeves of the best color but also that hide stuff like sweat patches and dirt. For those going for the bright colors, have your activity and environment explained to the fashionista before-hand.

Well, not once had The Rock been spotted without powerlifting knee sleeves when hitting the gym. Independent of his physical prowess, Steven Seagal always wears a pair of sleeves too. When preparing to do stunts or feature in a movie, both EMINEM and 50 CENT use a pair of sleeves.

Let your knees enjoy both comfort and worth by covering them in appealing powerlifting knee sleeves.

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