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Most lifters reach a point on their journey where they start breaking their previous weight records but can't quite scale up as much as they want to. While levelling up is important, if not done right, you run the risk of injury. The tiniest of movement here are there matters. The solution is to get the right compression and support—say hello to little helpers, a.k.a. weight lifting equipment, to give you added support in all the right spots. A knee sleeve is one such piece of equipment that ensures good form during dynamic movements and enhances your overall performance.
So, the short answer to whether you need knee sleeves for lifting is yes—if you wish to perform heavy squats correctly and maintain the right form and stability in each lift, knee sleeves can help you achieve that and then some. Whether you're looking for knee sleeves for squats or another exercise, at CERBERUS, we offer different types of knee sleeves for any and all training requirements. Before we jump to those, let’s get the basics right so you can choose the right product for your knee joint.
What is a Knee Sleeve?
A knee sleeve is a compression garment that is designed to stabilise the knee joint while lifting heavy weights and prevent injuries. This tube-shaped equipment is used for added support and warmth, regardless of whether you have joint problems or not. Wearing an IPF-approved sleeve on your knee also increases blood flow and enhances your performance over time, allowing you to lift more weight. CERBERUS knee sleeves are made using two layers of premium-quality neoprene in varying options. We offer the best knee sleeves in 7mm, 9mm, and dual- and triple-ply thickness.
What Do Knee Sleeves Do?
If you’re doing heavy lifting or performing functional training exercises like deadlifts, weighted squats, overhead press, leg press, etc., knee sleeves can prove to be an asset as they add compression to your knee joints at the right spots. This helps ensure not only proper form during heavy lifting movements but also injury prevention. Additionally, good-quality knee sleeves help add warmth to your knee joints, which tells your body to pump more blood into the area. if you already have an injury or joint problems, knee sleeves can help tremendously.
Benefits of Wearing Knee Sleeves
There's a reason why strength athletes wear high-quality knee sleeves for compression and support. When you choose a well-built pair of knee sleeves for squats from CERBERUS, you are sure to get many benefits:
Enhanced Stability and Technique
Knee sleeves (for squats, especially) can enhance stability by wrapping around your knee joints and creating maximum support. This in turn helps strength athletes improve their technique as using knee sleeves heightens joint awareness (or proprioception). This means that with the right neoprene knee sleeves, you’ll be more connected with and in control of the joints and muscles you should use while weightlifting.
Reduced Pain and Swelling
Knee pain, soreness, and swelling are the most common challenges faced by athletes and pros while training. But with the right support from knee sleeves, you can remedy these and avoid the risk of further injury. The primary job of neoprene knee sleeves is to add enough compression to the knee joint so that it’s supported and stable as you lift weights. Knee sleeves aid in compression and reduce pain and inflammation, preventing existing injuries from getting worse. They provide maximum support for added stability.
Increased Blood Flow and Faster Recovery
As we mentioned earlier, the compression on your knee helps increase the blood flow to the knee joint. This has several benefits, including an increased supply of oxygen to the knee which helps heal injuries faster.
Preventative Measures and Comfort
Many lifters who train for the big leagues add a knee sleeve to their weight-lifting equipment as a preventative step or to heal any existing minor discomforts. A knee sleeve also has the advantage of being flexible enough to not feel restricted, keeping you comfortable during all movements.
How to Use Knee Sleeves?
It may seem like a no-brainer to just wear your sleeves (like a sock) over your knees and be done with it. But the right way is a bit more sophisticated than that! Here’s how experts say you should do it:
- Fold one sleeve in half and slide it up your calf
- Place the folded sleeve’s top end just below your knee before unfolding it
- Unfold it, pull it up, and adjust it to ensure there are no wrinkles on the sleeve
How Do I Choose the Right Size Knee Sleeves?
Before you get excited about ordering your new knee sleeves from CERBERUS, let’s first understand how to pick the right one:
- Start by taking measurements of your knee with a tape. To do this, wrap the measuring tape snugly (not tight) around the widest part of your knee and note down the number.
- See the manufacturer’s size chart and choose the option corresponding to your knee measurement.
- If you’re somewhere in between, go for the next size rather than sizing down.
- Keep your weightlifting goals in mind before finalising your knee sleeves. For instance, if you’re training for Strongman, we recommend the 9mm EXTREME Knee Sleeves V2 and the Dual-Ply Knee Sleeves V2 from CERBERUS.
Difference Between Knee Sleeves and Knee Braces
While both knee sleeves and knee braces offer increased support and compression to the knee, their function and use cases are slightly different. The basic difference is that a knee brace is designed to offer targeted support to an injured knee, while knee sleeves are meant for general support to the knee cap area and injury prevention.
Difference Between Knee Sleeves and Knee Wraps
The main difference between knee sleeves and knee wraps is that of function. The former is flexible enough to apply moderate support and compression while still allowing you to do lifting movements comfortably, while knee wraps offer a firmer grip on the knee joints. Knee wraps are recommended for more advanced lifters who need to lift even more weight. If this sounds more suitable to your goals, check out our stellar collection of Weightlifting Knee Wraps from CERBERUS.
Conclusion
Adding the right knee sleeves to your training regimen can help minimise risks of injury, reduce pain, and maximise your performance. So if you’re training to smash your previous records and lift heavier, knee sleeves that fit snugly can prove to be extremely useful. We hope this blog gives you the clarity you need to decide whether a pair of knee sleeves is for you, or whether you would benefit more from knee wraps. In any case, we at CERBERUS offer all kinds of weight-lifting equipment, including high-quality lifting belts, elbow sleeves, and even wrist wraps. Explore our knee sleeves collection today and give your body the support it needs to hit those lifting milestones!
