Knee Sleeves?

terizius

I've had 4 knee surgeries on the left knee due to trauma when I was a kid. Last surgery was about 7 years ago to remove a portion of the lower patellar tendon and meniscus repair. I've also had a chondroplasty on that knee. MRI last year shows that I have another meniscus tear and scar tissue buildup. Despite this, it usually feels pretty good (aside from general aches) and I lift somewhat regularly, much more so now than in the past year. My squat is currently about about 250lbs 1RM, but I generally go just above parallel, being concerned about the stress on my knee if I go ATG. Tonight, I tried ATG with lower weights (145) and it actually felt pretty good, but I still think some support for that knee would be a good thing.

Do any of you folks use knee sleeves? Find that they help any? Have any recommendations for brands or styles? Thanks for your input.

ninerbuff

I use knee sleeves in the winter just to keep my knees warmer. Of course like any other type of compression sleeve, they will add some support. Just don't rely on them all the time.

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DopeItUp

Rehbands or SBD. Both excellent. I have the former.

PS: stopping above parallel actually puts MORE shear stress on the knees than dropping below. For example: http://www.aaronswansonpt.com/the-deep-squat-part-1-the-good-the-bad-the-not-so-ugly/

blankiefinder

In for the replies, in physio for a crappy knee (AKA patellofemoral syndrome) and the physio suggested a knee sleeve at my last appointment, according to her I have extremely hyper-mobile kneecaps

terizius

@Dope, thanks for the great article. Unfortunately, I'm pretty much exactly the type of person that should get a professional opinion before doing squats..

"I would be very careful to squat with people who have: meniscus pathology, PCL pathology, hip impingement pathology (labral tear or bone spur), chondromalacia (depending on location of pathology), or advanced symptomatic osteoarthritis."

I guess I'll just have to be careful then.

alyhuggan

I use Rehbands, they help eliminate some knee pain whilst squatting!

DvlDwnInGA

Rehbands here as well. They will definitely keep the knees warm. Mine are usually soaked with sweat by the time I get done with 4 sets of squats.

lulucitron

Are you doing both front and back squats? I've used sleeves and patellar knee bands and they helped. I've had surgeries and recently had them injected with synvisc as my knees are very arthritic now from all the abuse over the years. I can do squats now relatively pain free (box jumps I can't do) but I really have to concentrate on my form as the higher the weight, the more my knees tend to flare out, which usually means my hips and glutes are tightening up. My IT band is very short, so I stretch between sets and that seems to help. I just do back squats at the rack and save my front squats doing hack squats as I just can't find a comfortable grip for the bar across my collarbone. Sorry for the long winded post

juliewatkin

I use Rehbands, SBD and (old style) Titan sleeves. The SBD ones are longer, thicker and more compressive. They can be difficult to get on if they are tight so if you purchase them, pay attention to sizing. The size of both the SBD and new Titan ones coming on the market is dictated by the maximum allowable thickness and length by IPF rules. They are designed to give both support and 'pop' while staying within IPF guidelines for unequipped lifting.

If compression and support is what you really want, you may want rehbands.

I wear some variety of knee sleeve for every squat work out.

sofaking6

I have a Mueller sleeve from the drug store, I've had for years and never work out without it. I have some pain and wobble from an ACL replacement and the sleeve provides great stabilization.

terizius

Thanks all for the suggestions.

@lulu - Currently, I'm only doing back squats with some accessory isolation exercises. However, my routine changes today and I'll be incorporating front squats starting this week.

spfldpam

I would ask your knee ortho about it. Mine said no sleeve really work good. It is more of a mental thing thinking it supports it. It does keep them warm though. Unless you get a rx one from your ortho with the heavy duty metal on the outsides they really don't do much from what I have experienced and my knee ortho has told me.
Good luck!

terizius

May not be a bad idea to talk to the doc, but I have a sneaky suspicion they will just tell me to stop lifting. That's what the hand doc said about nagging wrist problem I've had for years..

spfldpam

Yes I know what you mean. My knee ortho dr told me to quit doing dog agility training cause it was tearing my knee up. It is basically bone on bone now so even though I lost alot of weight and it doesn't hurt like it did before being obese it still doesn't help the structural damage done. I did go back and do some agility classes after weight loss and the knee did good. Less weight on it makes a big difference. I still can't do alot of long term running or jogging on it though which I wish I could.

Good luck!

terizius wrote: »

May not be a bad idea to talk to the doc, but I have a sneaky suspicion they will just tell me to stop lifting. That's what the hand doc said about nagging wrist problem I've had for years..

spfldpam

I can't do hand planks anymore after I had carpal tunnel surgery the hand dr told me. I can do elbow ones but no hand planks! Dang!

sofaking6

spfldpam wrote: »

I would ask your knee ortho about it. Mine said no sleeve really work good. It is more of a mental thing thinking it supports it. It does keep them warm though. Unless you get a rx one from your ortho with the heavy duty metal on the outsides they really don't do much from what I have experienced and my knee ortho has told me.
Good luck!

I dunno - I mean the power of the mind is strong, but my knee still hurts with the sleeve, it just doesn't wobble. I'm hesitant to believe that's a mental thing..

terizius

^^ it probably has a lot to do with the kind of sleeve. I have a very thin one that I got from the ortho years ago. That one doesn't do anything physically or mentally.

sofaking6

terizius wrote: »

^^ it probably has a lot to do with the kind of sleeve. I have a very thin one that I got from the ortho years ago. That one doesn't do anything physically or mentally.

If it doesn't even make you feel tough, definitely time for a change