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Should You Use Knee Sleeves When Squatting?
A simple answer to a key powerlifting question: knee sleeves are superior to knee wraps
The barbell back squat is arguably the single most important movement in any strength and conditioning program. That is, if your strength and conditioning programming does not include the barbell back squat in some capacity, you should reconsider your programming. While you can certainly build up your leg muscles and strength by doing leg presses, leg extensions, leg curls, and other squat variations, like the front squat or split squat, you will not confer all of the total-body benefits that come with back squatting through doing these exercises.
Unlike these other leg exercises, the barbell back squat enables you to develop every major muscle group in your body. While I can't attest to this myself, Mark Rippetoe — arguably the best strength coach who ever lived — has gone on record saying that some of his own trainees have developed bodybuilder-level physiques from getting super strong on the back squat alone. When you squat with proper form, you’re working more than your legs — it becomes a total body exercise.
In light of the importance of the barbell back squat, whether or not to use knee sleeves arises. When most people think of using knee sleeves, their reasoning is to protect themselves from potential knee injuries. Likewise, many believe that using knee sleeves during the barbell back squat will confer performance benefits, such as the capacity to push heavier weights more safely.
But what do knee sleeves really do? Are they necessary for the barbell back squat? If you’re conflicted about using knee sleeves or not when barbell back squatting, you’ve landed on the right article.
Knee Sleeves versus Knee Wraps: Don’t Use Knee Wraps
Knee sleeves and knee wraps are similar tools for squatting. The idea behind both is to keep your knees compressed while squatting to protect your knees from potential injuries, keep them warm and comfortable during your set, and improve your performance on the barbell back squat by allowing you to push more weight.
