KNEE SLEEVES VS KNEE WRAPS: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

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KNEE SLEEVES VS KNEE WRAPS WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
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• While it is true that theres a lot of gimmicks
  in the fitness industry, theres also equipment
  that can revamp the way you train and the gains
  you make. And when it comes to the largest joint
  in your bodythe kneeit makes sense that youre
  going to want to keep it healthy and functional.
• This is where knee sleeves and knee wraps come
  in. Two popular methods of giving your knee added
  support and helping your lifts, these tools can
  be a boon to those who know how to use them in
  the correct situations.

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WHATS IN A KNEE

• As we mentioned, the knee is the largest joint in
  the body. And in this case, size does matter
  since youre going to be using the knee for a
  very wide variety of movements in athletics and
  sports. Anything from a light jog to a heavy
  deadlift will hinge on a properly functioning
  knee. But how does a properly functioning knee,
  function?

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• Along with athletic feats, the knee allows us to
  jump, stand up, sit, and squat down. Made up of
  three bones (the femur, tibia, and shin), the
  knee is a hinge-type synovial joint allowing for
  flexion, extension, and a little bit of rotation.
  To keep everything in working order, theres
  synovial fluid inside of the joint which
  lubricates things for easier movement.

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KNEE WRAPS, SLEEVES, AND BRACES

• Well briefly touch on the different methods of
  protecting your knee before going into each one
  in more detail. The knee brace deserves a mention
  as well, even if its not the focus of this
  article. Its usually more structured than a
  sleeve or a wrap and used specifically to allow
  people to regain their knee strength and range of
  motion.

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• It limits the amount you can move and helps with
  knee issues such as
• Locked knee
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
• Chrondromalacia Patellae
• Patellar Tendonitis
• Unstable knee joints

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WHAT ARE KNEE WRAPS?

• As we mentioned, wraps are used to restrict the
  movement in the knee joint and store elastic
  energy on the downward movement in the squat. At
  the bottom of the squat, your knees are going to
  want to spring back up due to the wrapping. This
  is also helpful in reducing the tension placed on
  knee joints and quadriceps.

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• Youll often find that theyre made from
  polyester canvas material, with rubber interwoven
  throughout it. Theyre also often 72 inches long
  and 3 inches wide, but different variations
  exist. Some versions will have Velcro to secure
  them in place, while others you can simply tuck
  in to stay in place. There are also different
  methods of tying them up, but it mostly comes
  down to personal preference.

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• Theres also a variation called Russian knee
  wraps. As the name suggests, youll often see
  Russian powerlifters using them. Along with
  Russian powerlifters, theyre also popular in
  Olympic weightlifting and squatting deeper. The
  material factors into this choice, since its
  much thinner and longer than the conventional
  knee wrap. This means you can get a wider range
  of motion, which is sometimes required, or
  wanted.

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WHAT ARE KNEE SLEEVES?

• Knee sleeves also go over your knees, but instead
  of being tightly wrapped, theyre slipped on
  likeyou guessed ita sleeve. Forgoing the
  restrictions of wraps, knee sleeves are made of
  Neoprene and opt for breathability and optimal
  comfort foremost. However, theyll also offer
  some level of compression on the knee, but not as
  much as with knee wraps. Their main function is
  to keep the joint warm and slightly compressed,
  helping you avoid future injuries and more easily
  recover.

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• These usually come in two different thicknesses
  5mm and 7mm. Youll want to opt for the thinner
  variant if youre looking to use sleeves for
  activities that require more mobility and
  agility, such as running, basketball, or
  CrossFit. On the other hand, a thicker sleeve can
  be useful for additional compression and support
  when it comes to doing heavier liftseither
  squatting or even deadlifting. However, watch out
  when it comes to choosing thick sleeves
  for deadlifts since they can get in the way of
  the bar.