Professional volleyball knee pads – what should I consider when choosing?

Professional sports equipment is not just for professional athletes. Protection against injuries is also useful in amateur sports. Volleyball knee pads are the basis of appropriate equipment of the player. Why it is worth to wear them and how to choose them?

Knee pads are a basic piece of equipment not only in volleyball, but also in other sports, which expose the knees to serious injury. Such protection is also used by cyclists, in-line skaters or people riding a skateboard. Its main task is to protect against mechanical injuries, bruises and fractures, which may occur as a result of a fall on a hard surface. Knee pads are especially important in volleyball equipment because they allow players to feel safer on the court and more likely to take risky actions such as defending.

Why wear knee pads?

A volleyball match is a constant repetition of the same movements. During it, the player is constantly jumping, falling and performing squats, especially in the libero or defensive position. Knee pads are designed to minimize the risk of kneecap injuries, skin tears, contusions, ligament ruptures and muscle tears. The pads also help the knees stay in the right position during every move – they provide stability and reduce the risk of twisting the leg during landing.

An additional benefit of volleyball knee pads is that they also psychologically enhance the player’s performance. A volleyball player who knows that he has extra protection from injury will throw himself onto the court to defend the ball with more commitment and confidence. Psychological comfort plays a special role at the amateur volleyball level. Wearing knee pads is a must during training sessions, so that no post-match injury can exclude a player from playing in an important competition. Pads are also an indispensable part of the training of beginners, because it builds their comfort on the court and protects against bruises, contusions and swelling, which can effectively discourage a young volleyball student.

How to recognize good volleyball knee pads?

Good protectors should be primarily sought from well-known and respected manufacturers. Companies creating sports equipment for professional athletes are a guarantee that the product was made with proper care and using new technologies.

For the production of volleyball knee pads, most often polyester with rubber, NBR rubber or polyurethane is used, which are materials with a high level of abrasion resistance and strong resistance to use. These types of materials also allow to create flexible pads, which adapt to the player’s movements. When buying knee pads it is also worth paying attention to whether the material wicks away heat and moisture, properly ventilates and supplies air to the knees.

How to choose the right knee pads?

The basis for the use of knee pads is the comfort of the player, who will wear them. They cannot pinch, be too tight, too short or too stretched. Knee pads should be matched to the height of the user and his previous injuries. Only the correct size allows freedom of movement during the game. The player must not be bothered by anything, nothing can pinch or squeeze him.

There are many sizes – manufacturers are trying to create knee pads so that the material from which they are made, adapt to the shape of the leg and work with the player. A key aspect when choosing a knee pad is the foam – it depends on it, how effectively our muscles, ligaments and bones will be protected from potential injuries.

Looking through the offers of different brands and manufacturers (Asics, Adidas, Nike, Mizuno), it is worth checking what is the density of foam in different models. Knee pads are one of those purchases that are worth making stationary. The comfort of wearing and performing exercises can be checked only by trying on the equipment. Moreover, the knowledge of the salesperson, who will know all the parameters of specific models, can be helpful.

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