KINEMATIC AND KINETIC ANALYSIS OF THE SQUAT WITH AND WITHOUT KNEE WRAPS

Powerlifters, bodybuilders, Olympic-style weightlifters and strength/power athletes often use knee wraps in the squat exercise in an attempt to maximize repetitions performed at a certain load or to increase 1RM. Little research has investigated the effects of knee wrap use on the biomechanics of the squat. PURPOSE: To determine if the use of knee wraps affects squat kinematics and kinetics in trained powerlifters. METHODS: In a counterbalanced design, ten trained powerlifters performed squats to a femur-parallel position both with (W) and without (NW) knee wraps. Each powerlifter performed a structured warm-up with rest periods ranging from four...