When we talk about knees or knee wraps we might not only refer to human’s knees. We could also mean animal’s knees, such as a horse knee. Whether it is for animals or humans, the knee is one of the most difficult areas to stabilize.
There are two assumptions behind making a knee wrap. The most common one is that a solidly flexible wrap is best. However, some people do not agree because too much cloth at the back of the knees could screw up the knees of smaller guys. This kind of wrap could be made very tightly because the fabric stretches when you start squatting. When they are stretched very close to their limit, the wrap becomes less supportive.
The second assumption is that the wrap must not be too tight and it should stretch out to as long an extent as possible. That means that when you squat the wrap stretches and shrinks when you stand. Getting the bind as many times around your knees as possible has an apparent benefit. It has more pounds in the squat but it gives more support. The elastic stretching is achieved without any worry. The wrap is less tight when standing, but when you squat the knee wrap gives more support.
Your choice of knee wrap is important. To help you decide, the weightier wrap is better because more material means more support. According to the rules, the wrap should be two meters long. During competitions, new knee wraps are recommended. This is so because real elasticity is required.
The correct way of putting on wraps is to start on top of the knee. Wind the wrap 2-3 times around to pin the tendon to the main bones and tie the quadriceps to improve force. Avoid having thick lining at the back of the knee, because it may not stretch when squatting and may not shrink when standing. Interweave the knee wrap to provide greater support when going down. Pin the wraps and end again at the top, leaving about 5 inches free.
Correct alignment of the knees would assure safety. During any physical movement, align the knees properly by maintaining them over the middle of the toes. To test knee alignment, when a string is dropped and it goes to the center of the foot beginning over the middle of the knee, it means the position is correct. Squatting is done properly by having the upper body erect and the knees are not ahead of the toes. They must be aligned.
A knee problem would surface during a rising movement. It is a knee in problem if it is not over the toes. If the knee is advanced or within, we could say it is a knee-in-problem. If it is within, the cure is by lightly tapping the inside of the knee as an exercise. If it is a knee out problem, the treatment is by widening out the posture or stance until they are aligned exactly over the toes.
Putting on the right knee wrap makes an important contribution to an athlete’s success. The right knee wrap gives the athlete good support so that when he squats or when he stands the elasticity of the wrap is felt.
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