KNEE SLEEVES

I’ve had my Rehband knee sleeves for at least 3 years. I can’t lie, I originally bought them because all the good lifters that I knew wore them, and they all told me I should get them. So I bought a pair, and I wore them all the time when I did any weighted squatting movements. I don't know how much they improved my lifting, but at least I looked cool....haha.

Knee sleeves serve a purpose. They support the knee by giving added stability and help keep the knee joint warm. In theory, you are less likely to sustain injury to your knee if you wear them. Some people with knee issues definitely need the help of knee sleeves. For instance, Chyna Cho had major issues with her left knee before she started CrossFit. She'd come off two knee surgeries and had only partial range of motion in her left knee. It took a lot of work in the gym before she was finally able to get the knee to full range of motion. Once we picked her up a set of knee sleeves, it helped immensely with her squatting movements. Chyna swears by her knee sleeves and won’t squat without them.

After the CrossFit Games season last year, I had an overused right knee. I wasn’t able to do any heavy squatting without the knee being extremely sore for at least a day or two. I was diagnosed with a Level I strain and a Level I sprain. I also had pain in the patellar region of my knee. I treated my knee by taking several months off from squatting and getting a few prolozone therepy treatments. The sprain and strain went away. After a few months of chilling on the knee, I was able to start squatting heavy again. I didn’t get the knee soreness anymore, but on occasion, I was still feeling a sharp pain in the patellar region during the initial movement of my first rep of any squatting exercise during any given set. It wasn’t messing me up to bad, but it was definitely not right.

I recalled that someone was once telling me about a pretty renowned weightlifter who never wore knee sleeves because they messed up up the way his knee cap moved in the patellar groove. Last week I decided to try squatting without knee sleeves. I don’t want to say it’s a miracle, but just like that, no more knee pain. I’ve done a bunch of overhead squatting and today I was doing front squats. No pain whatsoever. I’m pretty stoked. Is it all mental? Who knows. I let you know if I feel any pain in the future. All I know is my knee doesn’t hurt, and that’s a good thing.

Do you wear knee sleeves or are you thinking of getting a pair? Have you worn knee sleeves in the past, but you are no longer wearing them now? Post your thoughts to comments.

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IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE INFORMATION

Cheryl informed me that several people have approached her and told her they would like to attend training on Sunday, but they would prefer to train a little later in the day. I guess some of you attend this thing called "church" on Sunday mornings..... =)  Beginning this Sunday (2/19) the Sunday session is changed from 10 am to 12 pm. We'll roll with this for awhile and see how it goes.

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WORKOUT   2/16/2012

Complete 10/8/6/4/2 reps for time of:

• Thruster (M:115#/W:75#)
• Burpee box jumps

Do a burpee and jump on a box. Tons of fun.....

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Comments

[Richard]

Thanks

[Freddy]

Richard- http://www.jackalsgym.com/store.aspx?cat_id=RH

[Richard F (LA CO. Prob.)]

Hey brother, really enjoy reading your posts. Re: knee sleeves, I am thinking of getting me a pair. I started to lightly wrap mine because over the years of squatting I have developed arthritis. I can't even squat the bar without having sharp pain in my knees. I told by a powerlifter to wrap my knees tight when I squat. I found by wrapping tight I could lift a lot more weight. I stopped wrapping tight because I felt I was lifting more than I really could. Where could I find a pair of the blue sleeves?

[Lancaster]

I don't wear the knee wrap when I pick up heavy things and put them down... But after this post I will be wearing knee wraps when I pick up heavy things and put them down...

[Freddy]

Works fine on my cellphone

[P]

The link on the right bar for the Reebok gear does not seem to work...

[angela]

Knee Sleeves Rock! I would not lift without them.

We are o-lifting this evening at 6:30 pm and on Saturday at 10 a.m.

[Doug]

Other only time I use mine are for lunges as well. But I mostly use them to keep my protein shake cold during my workout! They are made of neoprene which is a great insulator!!

[Tom]

I use 'em all the time just to keep the joint warm and especially when doing lunges, but in the last two months I have switched to knee wraps when doing 90-100% on 1RM. The knee wraps are amazing and I have so much more stability, oh yeah and a nice new PR in back squat from 462# to 485# during the last cycle.

[joe]

bought a pair but use them to muzzle my twin hogs so they wont' chomp at each other.

Here is one of them:
http://i40.tinypic.com/34qlgqo.jpg

[Stroud]

Ya I stopped using mine a while ago as well... mostly because they started to smell and I'm to lazy to wash them

[roger]

have the same rehband pair....cant squat without them . I don't have any knee pain due to all the mobility bu I enjoy the security and the warmth... the smell after they are used is another thing entirely!!!

[BTMcGee]

Same as Chyna, my left knee always gave me issues. After a few months using the sleeve and rolling out I can now squat without pain.
I can say, I've felt my kneecap do weird things while wearing the sleeve but these things happen...It never bothered me to much.
anyways, I actually gave one of my sleeves to Sandra for her left left knee as well.
Im all for them!!!

[alex]

Ive never used the knee sleeves, not because I dont believe in them or wouldnt use them, it all comes to being lazy and having another thing to order online, not to mention put on. Its hard enough to put my oly shoes on now a days... GBO