This year is full of excitement for the U.S as it is all set for the upcoming major sports events like the U.S Open, World Games, the IAAF World Championships, etc. While these events influence the political, economic, and cultural aspects of countries around the globe, one cannot deny their impact on inspiring young talents in sports.
The best way to nurture these youth is to provide the finest training possible while maintaining proper safety measures. April is observed as the National Youth Sports Safety Month to raise awareness against sports injuries and advise parents, coaches, and student-athletes on avoiding injuries.
While different professions have different safety requirements, knee injuries are among the most common accidents among people in sports and occupations that require leaning on knees.
Why Do You Need Knee Pads?
Knee pads prevent injury of the knee caps, and work knee pads offer comfort and support to the leg muscles when working for long hours. It is designed to reduce the impact felt by the knees and act as a cushion when jobs require kneeling. It is also helpful in preventing Osteoarthritis in the knees, the most common form of arthritis.
The Different Types of Knee Pads
The type of knee pad depends on the nature of work or the environment it will be used. While multi-purpose knee pads might meet your needs, it is ideal to purchase one specially designed for the job.
Knee pads come in different designs like flexible, hard, or soft caps to navigate the various stability and mobility features.
- Soft Caps: Knee pads for work like gardening and carpeting have soft caps made of foam materials. These work knee pads are lightweight and are perfect for projects around the house where surfaces are smooth or somewhat soft. They offer the broadest knee-to-surface contact point and are suitable for work requiring long hours of kneeling.
- Hard Caps or Shell Caps: These pads have surface shell caps made of plastic or carbon fiber to protect the knees from lacerations and punctures while working on rough surfaces like roofs or construction sites. They offer mobility to move and slide around while safeguarding the knees from getting scratched. Hard caps come in a variable amount of dense padding for additional support.
- Flexible Caps: These knee pads are suitable for volleyball, basketball, and weight-lifting sports as they absorb shock and deliver maximum mobility due to their honeycomb design and foam materials. These are the ideal knee pads for athletes for their breathability, sweat-wicking feature, and easy maintenance.
Types of Knee Pads Based On Occupation:
Depending on the occupation, knee pads are distinguished into:
knee pads for work- are essential for jobs like builders, plumbers, and industrial climbers, where one must kneel for long hours.
Tactical knee pads - are made of bulletproof material to be used by the military and special services.
Extreme sports knee pads - come in a set that includes elbow pads. They prevent injury during a fall in sports like skating, rollerblading, etc.
Knee pads for Volleyball – are suitable for Volleyball as they prevent injury and pain during frequent falls to the knees.
Knee Pads for running – these pads create compression and reduce the pressure on the knee during running.
How to Choose the Right Knee pad?
When purchasing knee pads, consider qualities like comfort and function and, most importantly, the level of protection it will offer.
Keep the following features in mind while choosing knee pads:
The Right Size
The most important thing to keep in mind while buying knee pads is to check their fit. Too small pads can restrict movement and feel uncomfortable, while too big pads will not give you the required protection. Therefore, choosing the right size with adjustable straps will provide you with the comfort and safety you desire.
Cushioning Material
Knee pads are available with cushioning materials like gel, foam, or rubber. While athletes need impact-resistant padding to prevent injury, household projects and other light workplace activities require padding to protect the knees when kneeling for long periods.
Padding Thickness
The thickness or density of the heavy duty knee pads is concerned according to the jobs requiring kneeling for longer durations. Activities like gardening and carpeting, which requires one to spend most of their time kneeling, should choose thick padding for comfort and easy movement.
Adjustable Straps
All knee pads don’t come with adjustable straps. Therefore, one must be careful while choosing knee pads as adjustable pads are suitable when the pads go over different clothing. Frequent movements like kneeling and standing up also require knee pads with adjustable straps to allow you to tighten them as needed.
Breathability
Choosing knee pads based on their cooling and heating properties as determined by their material is another important factor. While neoprene soft cap knee pads provide breathability, thick padding on knee pads acts as thermal insulators at low temperatures.
Knee pads, although small, are one of the essential parts of a PPE suit. While choosing the right knee pad might seem daunting, a visit to Bison Life will make your task much easier. You can choose from many knee pad collections and get them at the most affordable price.
