To wear knee sleeves or not?

Knee sleeves can be beneficial during heavy lifts, but whether they should be worn depends on your goals, the type of lift, and your individual needs. Here’s a breakdown:

 

When Knee Sleeves Can Help:

 

Squats (Back, Front, Overhead):
Provide compression and warmth, which improves blood flow and keeps the joint lubricated.Add joint stability and a small amount of proprioceptive feedback (awareness of joint positioning).May offer psychological confidence when handling near-maximal loads.
 Olympic Lifting (Cleans, Snatches):
Same benefits apply, especially given the deep squat catch positions.Many lifters wear them for joint health over time.
 Post-Injury or Chronic Knee Issues:
Can provide light support without restricting movement. 

When You Might Avoid Them:

Relying on them too much for joint support can mask underlying weaknesses or mobility issues.If you’re trying to build raw joint strength, training without sleeves might help in off-season or during lighter sessions. Some lifters avoid sleeves for competition prep if competing in raw categories that don’t allow them (e.g. some powerlifting federations).