My knees are barking the day after a heavy barbell squat session. Perhaps it’s time to give up the facade and get some knee sleeves. I already use elbow sleeves when I bench press to prevent tennis elbow from flaring up. It’s time to wrap the other major joint of the other major limbs.
The hesitancy comes from this macho ego image of dismissing any sort of assistance. That using straps and sleeves will prevent me from developing my body to its full potential. Why shouldn’t my hands be capable of holding onto a multi-plate barbell for multiple deadlift reps without the bar slipping out? I want grip strength of the gods!
Of course that’s not how it works. I have to keep in mind what muscles an exercising is targeting. I cannot let hand grip be the limiting factor for an exercise - deadlift - that’s suppose to work the lower back, hamstrings, and glutes. No matter how awesome your grip strength is, it can never surpass the three aforementioned muscles. It will no doubt be the first point of failure, which is what lifting straps alleviate. I use them all the time.
As we head into the colder months it’s important to maintain warmth at the joints when weightlifting. That’s what sleeves do. Since I’ve started lifting I’ve been able to thankfully squat without any pain, but that seems to be changing as the weight increases on the barbell. The knees have soreness, and the upper back as well (you try putting 255 pounds on your back).
Alright then. Black Friday is coming in a month, time to take advantage and get a pair of knee sleeves. The good neoprene ones are not cheap!
Hello.