How to choose the right knee pads among the many varieties on the market

You are planning to buy knee pads and it would seem that it is difficult here: you open a browser, enter a search query “buy knee pads” and choose the model you like. But, unexpectedly for yourself, you face a difficulty: completely different knee pads appear on the screen: from children’s knee pads for crawling to an aluminum rigid knee brace, among which you are confused trying to find those that meet your needs.

We have tried to gather all the necessary  information about all types of knee pads in this article. We sincerely hope that after reading this article you will reliably understand what kind of knee pads you need.
At first let us divide all knee pads into two groups due to their usage:

Protective knee pads – used to prevent knee injuries. As a rule, they are used for specific types of classes. 

Medical (orthopedic knee pads) – knee braces that are used in the treatment and prevention of orthopedic diseases or pain relief.

How to understand the knee pads from which group you need? 

If you feel pain in your knee and are looking for knee pads that will help reduce pain or restore health after an injury – you definitely need medical knee pads. But we urge you not to self-medicate and if you have knee pain, see a doctor, he will prescribe rehabilitation therapy and help you choose the right knee pads.

But if you want to avoid injury or reduce pain during specific classes – you need protective knee pads. With the information below we will help to understand what kinds  and types of knee pads are presented in each group.

TYPES OF PROTECTIVE KNEE PADS

Types of protective knee pads are based on the type of occupation for which they are intended. Let’s see what types of protective knee pads exist and how they differ:
working knee pads – are necessary when performing works in which you have to lean on knees. Used by builders, plumbers, industrial climbers – roofing knee pads, knee pads flooring;

military or tactical – made of bulletproof material. Such knee pads not only protect the knee from injury when falling but also from shots. They are used by the military and special services;

motorcycle knee pads (motor knee pads) – these knee pads have a special design that protects the knee and shin;

knee pads for extreme sports –  often offered complete with elbow pads and protect joints from injury in сase of a fall. These can be knee pads for skating, rollerblade knee pads, knee pads for scooters, etc.

knee pads for basketball – these knee pads have a more pronounced compression effect, which reduces the load on the knee joint when jumping;

knee pads for volleyball – they have a soft pillow, volleyball knee pads that protect the cup not only from injuries, but also from pain during frequent falls to the knees;

running knee pads – these sports knee pads create useful compression and reduce the load on the knee during running;

knee pads for dancing and acrobatics – in dance knee pads’ aesthetic properties are no less important than protective ones. As a rule, for trainings choose knee pads in practical black color, and for performances – suitable to the style of a suit or imperceptible bodily. But there are many exceptions to this “rule” – many dancers prefer to emphasize their individuality and mood by  choosing training knee pads in bright colors  and interesting design. The QUEEN range includes knee pads of different designs and colors from black classics to bright “cats” (you can see all the models here). And the brand expands the collection of body knee pads so that everyone can choose a model for their skin tone.

knee pads for pole dance – a little different from regular knee pads for dance. Such knee pads have an additional requirement – they must provide grip with the pylon. This effect is obtained by manufacturers applying a special silicone coating to the surface of the knee. Bright pole dancers are not only satisfied with the functional features of the knee pads, they are no less interested in design. Therefore, QUEEN produces a series of sticky knee pads, among which there are white, red… in general, it is better to see once than to read. All models of  QUEEN pole dance knee pads  are here.

children’s knee pads for crawling – reliably protect gentle children’s legs from injuries, cuts and scratches, and baby’s clothes are protected from  any rub markings and holes while crawling.

Choosing knee pads for sports, you can narrow the search to a suitable type of knee pads. 

A distinctive feature of protective knee pads is the presence of a reinforced protective insert in the front of the knee. Protective inserts are made of soft but strong foam. The material for the production of protective cushions can be polyurethane foam, polyethylene foam, ethylene- vinyl acetate foam, PVC foam, XPS foam material, nylon foam and neoprene foam. Some manufacturers make knee pads with gel by filling  the protective insert inside.

TYPES OF ORTHOPEDIC KNEE PADS

The main parameter of the classification of orthopedic knee pads is the degree of fixation. Thus, the knees are easy to fix, semi-rigid and rigid.

Knee pads elastic (easy fixation) are most often used for minor injuries: swelling or slight damage to the ligaments. This knee brace is used during exercise by those who have previously suffered a knee injury to prevent re-injury.

Light knee pads, reinforced with spiral ribs, are widely used for knee pain, osteoarthritis and arthritis, bursitis. Also, a knee bandage with stiffening ribs is used for sprains, instability of the knee joint, or during rehabilitation after surgery or injury.

A distinctive feature of the knee pads’ semi-rigid fixation – the mandatory presence in their design of the formed hinges and tires. The doctor prescribes the wearing of a semi-rigid knee in the treatment of joint contractures, damage to the cruciate ligaments and lateral ligaments, menisci, after operations and injuries on the distal thigh and proximal tibia.

Rigid fixation knee pads include splints that can completely immobilize the knee joint and their functionality replaces the plaster bandage and reinforced  frame structures – made of lightweight and durable aluminum alloy, allows you to rigidly fix the knee joint in all planes, completely eliminating the possibility of movement. 

An orthopedist will help you choose the right type of medical knee pads.

ANOTHER CLASSIFICATION OF KNEE PADS

Both, protective and medical knee pads can be made of natural or synthetic materials. Knee pads made of natural cotton material – environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic, comfortable to wear. But at the same time, they are not durable in operation, deform quickly, need frequent replacement.

Knee pads made of synthetic materials – made of lycra, neoprene, nylon – are modern hypoallergenic materials that also allow air and remove moisture, but are also more durable than cotton. Well, how did we manage to shed light on the features of all types of knee pads? We really hope so! We are sure that now you know exactly what knee pads you need and you can easily pick them up for yourself among all the variety presented by the manufacturers.

Well, did we manage to shed light on the features of all types of knee pads? We really hope so! We are sure that now you know exactly what knee pads you need and you can easily pick them up for yourself among all the variety presented by the manufacturers.