Knee Pads & Sciatic Pain
Sciatic pain (pain related to nerve damage) of the knees can be caused by a number of factors, including--but not limited to--failing to wear proper safety equipment while engaging in high-risk and/or high-stress physical activities over a prolonged period of time. Sciatic pain of the knees is commonly related to repetitive injuries sustained while playing sports or by repetitive, on-the-job motions in fields like construction work; the risk of such injury can be minimized by choosing quality, properly fitting knee pads.
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Sport Specificity
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When choosing knee pads, you must first consider the type of physical activity you engage in. An appropriate knee pad for playing roller derby, for example, is not going to work for someone who plays volleyball and needs greater knee flexibility. For those who need greater knee flexibility, a soft knee pad is preferable, while for those who absorb hard knocks to the knee and are not concerned about flexibility, a hard, rigid knee pad will provide more comfort while reducing the risk of injury.
Choosing the Proper Knee Pad
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Most sporting good stores will sell knee pads meant for your specific sport; you can find pads meant for construction or home improvement work at home improvement stores.
Be sure to know what you are looking for: Knee pads are not the same as knee braces, which are sold in drug stores and intended to allow for rehabilitation but not to protect against injury during sporting activity. Remember, too, that though a good pair of pads may be costly, they will last longer and will provide more protection to your knees, possibly saving you future medical expenses.
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Knee Pad Sizing
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Do not purchase a pair of knee pads without trying them on. If your knee pads do not fit correctly, they will not provide protection against injury and can actually increase the risk of injury. Knee pads should strap around the knees and fully cover the knee caps and an inch or two of leg above and below. You want your knee pads to be comfortable and not too tight, but they should not slide around, and there should be no room between your leg and your knee pads. If your knee pads are too big, they will slide down during exercise, posing a safety risk.
Warning
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No matter how good your knee pads are, with any sport activity, knee injuries are a risk.
Consult an orthopedist if you have had past knee injuries and are unsure as to whether or not you should be risking your knees playing sports.
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