Many lifters use elastic bandages warped round their knees when performing leg exercises with heavy weights. Theoretically, using knee wraps is meant to supply additional safety to your knees when uncovered to heavy stress. Nonetheless, this concept has by no means been scientifically examined. That’s, it wasn’t examined till not too long ago.
Analysis
A current examine performed by U.Okay. researchers has centered on figuring out the impact that elastic knee bandages have on the squat biomechanics when carried out by lifters with 80 p.c of their one-rep most. The outcomes had been then in contrast with these obtained by the identical lifters performing the identical train however with out the bandages.
Findings
The findings of this examine have revealed that the knee wraps had certainly drastically improved the squat’s power manufacturing, particularly in the course of the respectable.
However, using wraps had a unfavorable affect on the biomechanics, because it restricts the flexion of the hip joint. Consequently lifters are inclined to take a extra vertical place, with elevated flexion of the knee.
Conclusion
As a conclusion we would say that the benefit that knee wraps present is solely mechanical, ensuing from releasing the elastic vitality created with the respectable. This impact is similar to what occurs once you press down and launch a spring. The examine has recognized two main flows in utilizing knee wraps.
First, they’ll harm the lower-body improvement by altering the squatting method.
Second, they switch higher stress to the knee joints on account of each the altered place and the bodily barrier behind the knees.
All issues thought of, it seems that it’s extremely advisable to keep away from using knee wraps, particularly when aiming to extend your lower-body energy. Knee wraps might even have very unfavorable impact on you knee joints, making them extra weak and liable to harm in the long term.
Reference: The Journal of Conditioning and Strength Research
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