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Alright, I'm not exactly one of the hard science guys around here.
I'm also not one of the weird science guys.
However, I am trying to get my CSCS. That's irrelevant to the current question though. In chapter 4 of the NSCA textbook on biomechanics, here is what it says about knee wraps.
"It is not unusual for individuals to use knee wraps during training or competition. The wraps vary from thin, elastic, pull-on variety [to me this means sleeves] that can be purchased in drug stores to the heavy, specialized wraps sold only through weightlifting supply stores. . . Very little research has been done on the efficacy of knee wraps. Detrimental side effects have been reported, however, including skin damage and chondromalacia patellae, the wearing down and toughening of the posterior surface of the patella.
Though there is no available evidence that wraps protect the knee against injury, an experiment conducted by Harman and Frykman showed that wraps can improve performance. Through a spring effect alone, heavy wraps around the knees added an average of 25 pound to squat lifting force. The notion that warps work only by stabilizing the knee, lessening the athlete's fear of injury, or providing a kinesthetic cue is incorrect. The wraps actually provide direct help in extending the knee. On the basis of lack of evidence that knee wraps prevent injury and the opinion of a number of health practitioners who assert that knee wraps can actually cause injury, athletes should probably minimize the use of wraps. If used at all, knee wraps should be limited to the sets with the heaviest loads" (86-87).
Now, I think this is the worst written chapter in the book with some questionable assumptions throughout. Additionally, I get that for the CSCS exam I should just give them back their own information and not try to debate. However, I would swear by sleeves at least. When I use to do max attempts and near max work sets, my left knee would be killing me for a few days afterwards. Since I bought some cheap sleeves from Sports Authority, that inflammation or whatever it is has disappeared. It could be correlation rather than causation but I highly doubt. I'll also grant that it's possible that the pain was due to some form mistake/muscle imbalance that is now being obscured by the sleeves and could end up doing me more harm than good in the long run (by not correcting whatever was causing my knee to hurt).
TL;DR version:
All that being said, I want to bat around the idea of wraps and sleeves and get some opinions. Like I said, personally I swear by sleeves for near maximal sets and max sets, but have never used wraps. What say you to the NSCA?
For your trouble
I'm also not one of the weird science guys.
However, I am trying to get my CSCS. That's irrelevant to the current question though. In chapter 4 of the NSCA textbook on biomechanics, here is what it says about knee wraps.
"It is not unusual for individuals to use knee wraps during training or competition. The wraps vary from thin, elastic, pull-on variety [to me this means sleeves] that can be purchased in drug stores to the heavy, specialized wraps sold only through weightlifting supply stores. . . Very little research has been done on the efficacy of knee wraps. Detrimental side effects have been reported, however, including skin damage and chondromalacia patellae, the wearing down and toughening of the posterior surface of the patella.
Though there is no available evidence that wraps protect the knee against injury, an experiment conducted by Harman and Frykman showed that wraps can improve performance. Through a spring effect alone, heavy wraps around the knees added an average of 25 pound to squat lifting force. The notion that warps work only by stabilizing the knee, lessening the athlete's fear of injury, or providing a kinesthetic cue is incorrect. The wraps actually provide direct help in extending the knee. On the basis of lack of evidence that knee wraps prevent injury and the opinion of a number of health practitioners who assert that knee wraps can actually cause injury, athletes should probably minimize the use of wraps. If used at all, knee wraps should be limited to the sets with the heaviest loads" (86-87).
Now, I think this is the worst written chapter in the book with some questionable assumptions throughout. Additionally, I get that for the CSCS exam I should just give them back their own information and not try to debate. However, I would swear by sleeves at least. When I use to do max attempts and near max work sets, my left knee would be killing me for a few days afterwards. Since I bought some cheap sleeves from Sports Authority, that inflammation or whatever it is has disappeared. It could be correlation rather than causation but I highly doubt. I'll also grant that it's possible that the pain was due to some form mistake/muscle imbalance that is now being obscured by the sleeves and could end up doing me more harm than good in the long run (by not correcting whatever was causing my knee to hurt).
TL;DR version:
All that being said, I want to bat around the idea of wraps and sleeves and get some opinions. Like I said, personally I swear by sleeves for near maximal sets and max sets, but have never used wraps. What say you to the NSCA?
For your trouble
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