Knee Wraps or not?

[powerrack]

I am curious on people's opinions on knee wraps on heavy squats,etc. I have never used them, but wondering if it's worth using, will the possible increase in my squat possibly assist in gains?

 

[Dubs]

IMO..

It sets you up for weak knee tendons, because the wraps will be giving alot of assistance to the tendons. This is what i think, as well as what ive heard from others.

It would possibly assist in gains. you might be able to squat heavier. But if used too often, you would be setting yourself up for an injury if you didnt squat with them at some point.

If that makes sense?

 

[slyfox115]

I've heard this as well. But I ALWAYS use knee wraps on heavy sets as a precaution. I dont wrap them like a powerlifter would to necessarily "gain" any leverage to increase the lift. But my thinking is its better to error on the side of saftely when your lifting loads start climbing.

 

[Ashop]

I am curious on people's opinions on knee wraps on heavy squats,etc. I have never used them, but wondering if it's worth using, will the possible increase in my squat possibly assist in gains?

depends on how heavy im going if I use them.

 

[Manorexic]

I use wraps only on heavy lifts....

 

[BALDNAZI]

Same boat...

I just started using them recently and I am getting used to them. I ONLY use them on my heaviest sets though. Its a peace of mind issue. When you have a ton of weight on your back one wrong move and your done. They keep my knees stable throughout the lift, no lateral motion or instability.

 

[abolish the weak]

I use them on anything over 315 lbs on squats. I'm sure they help assist the lift a little, but your quads still have to push to get that weight up, wraps are not going to do it for you. The difference is I can use them and be done with a press and my quads still feel torched but my knees feel fine. If I dont use them , my quads are not as pumped since I couldn't use as much weight, but my knees feel shot

 

[cb11mass]

I used to use them on heavy squats, leg press, and some times heavy dead's because of some knee pain. However, I feel as though they put unneccasary stress on my hips. I developed hip pain which I thought was extremely scary when I was 20 yrs oldi think thats the last thing you should worry about at that age). I believe that if you remove stress from one joint you aredistributing it not only to the straps but to a dif. location.
So, I lost the straps and my belt as well, lightened up and perfected my form. Now I am stronger than I was with all the lifting accessories and my form is extremely strict without ANY pain or discomfort at all.

 

[Sesshomaru]

I am curious on people's opinions on knee wraps on heavy squats,etc. I have never used them, but wondering if it's worth using, will the possible increase in my squat possibly assist in gains?

They provide compression which can offer some assistance. Think about how it feels on your hips if you squat with a snug pair of jeans.

Anyway, it depends on your goals. If youre going to wear them tightly for assistance, then I wouldnt advise squatting beyond true parallel because that can stress the patella more.

As a safety tool, I dont really see them of high value. Theyre kinda like a belt in my opinion: if youre not doing the movement correctly then they are of actual use, otherwise no.

If youre squatting properly, progressing gradually, and making sure you have structural integrity in the tendons and balance between your quads and hams, then you shouldnt have a problem.

For some people, the pain in squatting occurs because they stop at 90 degrees of knee flexion rather than going all the way down. Again, it comes down to squatting properly.

 

[Fa Seeshus]

They provide compression which can offer some assistance. Think about how it feels on your hips if you squat with a snug pair of jeans.

Anyway, it depends on your goals. If youre going to wear them tightly for assistance, then I wouldnt advise squatting beyond true parallel because that can stress the patella more.

As a safety tool, I dont really see them of high value. Theyre kinda like a belt in my opinion: if youre not doing the movement correctly then they are of actual use, otherwise no.

If youre squatting properly, progressing gradually, and making sure you have structural integrity in the tendons and balance between your quads and hams, then you shouldnt have a problem.

For some people, the pain in squatting occurs because they stop at 90 degrees of knee flexion rather than going all the way down. Again, it comes down to squatting properly.

great post!


if you learn to activate the hams and glutes, it does take ALOT of stress off the knees.


i've also seen a few muff ups where one knee wrap loosens while the other stays tighter... creating a rather bad situation.