Knee Wraps Guidelines for Squatting

What do think about using wraps on your knees when squatting?  I notice some guys do this with every set on every leg day.  What about smelling salts?

I encourage the use of knee wraps and smelling salts – provided your technique is up to the additional loads they enable you to lift.  After you have met this criteria, I then stress the need to ‘cycle’ use of these lifting aids.  My standard progression of knee wraps is something like this :

Stage 1             No wraps

Stage 2             Old wraps placed on loosely

Stage 3             Old wraps placed on tightly

Stage 4             New wraps placed on loosely

Stage 5             New wraps placed on tightly

A person involved in squatting competitions that allow the use of knee wraps (most do) will probably use the knee wraps more of the year than say a novice lifter.  Here are some general guidelines for percentage of the training year wraps should be used as influenced by your training goals and status.

Note these are guidelines only.  As you can see, I do feel knee wraps have a place, but only for some.  I do recommend a neoprene knee sleeve for all trainees during squatting, mainly to keep the knee temperature up.

© Ian King and King Sports International, Inc. This article is not to be reproduced in part of whole in any format without written permission of the author.

Do you have a question about the Article on this page?  Click here to send us your question!

- Top -