How to Use Knee Wraps: In-Depth Guide

Once you pick from one of the several wrapping methods, it’s important to understand when to use the wrap and how to use it, in order to maximize the benefits of the wrap. 

How To Put On Knee Wraps

Step 1: 

Before you begin wrapping, make sure the wrap is tight. You don’t want to let the wrap become loose as it will take away from the knee wrap benefits.

Step 2: 

Start with your leg extended out in a straight position. You can either start from the front or behind the knee. You typically want to place the end of the wrap just below the kneecap and above the shin.

Step 3: 

Next, you want to imagine making an ‘X’ shape with the wrap as you wrap it behind the knee and back to the front. 

Step 4: 

Maintain continual tension as you spiral the wrap upward, covering the knee.

Step 5: 

Afterward, you want to recreate the ‘X’ shape pattern, which enforces stability by bringing the wrap back to the bottom of your knee and wrapping it behind, before bringing it back up to the top of the kneecap. 

Step 6: 

Here, you should either be almost out of the wrap, or you’ll have a little bit left. If you’re out, then simply tuck the end into the wrap and call it a day, but if you still have some left, then continue with the spiral as before until you run out of the wrap and can tuck it in.

Different Knee Wrapping Techniques

The Spiral Method

The method described above is known as The Spiral Method. It’s typically the easiest method of knee wrapping as you follow the spiral pattern up the knee. This method is also easier for tightening the wrap, as the knee wrap tightens horizontally, which is according to the spiral pattern. 

Adding the ‘X’ pattern to it creates more stability in the knee as it helps compress the knee, keeping it safer during the lift as well. Plus, it’s very simple to remove afterward as all you have to do is untuck the end of the wrap and it will ‌fold backward, releasing tension on your knee after your lift. 

The Triple ‘X’ Method

This method involves three ‘X’ patterns, each one placed slightly higher than the previous one, so it can cover the entire knee. You start off as you did with all other wrapping methods, just below the kneecap, and create the pattern as you move up the knee. Make sure you keep the tension by pulling the wrapper tighter with each layer of the ‘X’. 

The Bowtie Method

Unlike the previous wrapping methods, the bowtie starts at the top of your knee, near the bottom of your quad. You leave the edge of the wrap out, and then cross down, behind the knee, to the bottom of the kneecap, and start to spiral back up to the top again. If you have extra wrap, you can make the ‘X’ pattern, and then spiral the rest to the top. Once at the top, you tie the extra edge you left out at the beginning with the extra left at the end to create a bowtie knot.

Two Common Knee Wrapping Mistakes

1. A common mistake will be that a lifter will remember to pull the wrap tight in their first or second spiral, but fail to keep tightening the wrap as they move through the entire process. This results in a failure to maintain tension, which negates the benefits of the wrap.

2. Having too much tension is another mistake. Some lifters can wrap their knees so tightly that it cuts off circulation. That is bad in of itself, but another negative of such a mistake is that it messes up the lifting form of the athlete, resulting in them missing their big lift as they cannot get into a proper technical position. 

What To Look For In Knee Wraps For Deadlifting

A standard knee wrap comes in between 72 and 82 inches and is generally 3 inches in width. Typically, you want to look for a knee wrap that is between 78 and 80 inches ‌as it suits both beginners and advanced lifters. This range will allow you to do most of the knee wrap methods.

Also, it’s better if the knee wrap is made of elastic nylon, as that material is more durable and will last longer. 

For deadlifting, make sure the knee wrap isn’t tied too tightly as it could cause you to compromise your technique, especially as you sit down into your deadlift.

Our Recommended Pair Of Knee Wraps For Lifting

For knee wraps, we like the Harbinger Red Line 78-Inch Knee Wraps for Weightlifting.

• The wrap has 3inch wide elastic, which is suitable for competitions and helps provide a nice tight, and secure wrap around the knee for stable lifts.
• Also, it is 78 inches in length, so you can spiral it around your knee a few extra times to provide more stability in the knee. Plus, the length is plenty to allow you to practice different wrapping methods.
• It is a one size fits all wrap, so whether you’re a male or female, the wrap’s tension can be adjusted to fit your needs. 

FAQ

When Should You Use Knee Wraps?

The best time to use your knee wraps is when you’re tackling weights close to your max. The wrap will help you lift the weight, but will also protect your tendons as it allows you to perform the weight quickly, so there is less tension on your tendons. 

Don’t overuse the wrap for lesser loads because then your tendons and muscle will get weaker and this will result in injuries.

How Tight Should Knee Wraps Be?

If you imagine a tightness scale from 1 to 10, you want to eventually get to ‌where the wrap is near an 8 or 9 on that scale when you’re performing the lift.

If the wrap is too tight, it can throw off your lifting technique and cause you to miss your lift. So, in the base form, your wrap should be tight enough for you to maintain your form. 

Should I Squat With Knee Wraps?

If you’re handling somewhere above 80-85% of your 1 rep max, then it’s a good idea to throw on a wrap.

Learning how to wrap knees for squats is important because as you squat down, energy builds up in the wrap due to the tension you maintain as you wrap it around your knee. So, when you squat back up, the energy releases, helping you in the eccentric portion of the lift.

Conclusion

A knee wrap will help reduce the risk of injury and aid you in your lift, but only if you learn to apply the wrap with proper technique and tightness, so it doesn’t interfere with your form, but rather gives your lift a boost. 

Also read:

• 5mm vs 7mm Knee Sleeves
• Knee Sleeves for Deadlift
• Knee Wraps vs Sleeves
• Best Knee Sleeves 
• Best Knee Wraps For Squats
• Best Knee Brace

References:

1. That’s A Wrap: How To Wrap Your Knees // Bodybuilding:
   https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/gary3.htm
2. What All Squatters Knee’d To Know // Bodybuilding.com:
   https://www.bodybuilding.com/content/what-all-squatters-knee-d-to-know.html