What Are Knee Pads For?

Knee strains and bruises are sometimes among the effects of many sporting activities, professions, and pastimes. Using knee pads is often necessary to offer protection from such impacts and abrasions so that you can enjoy or finish those activities with fewer injuries. The types of knee pads available are as varied as the many activities for which they are used.

  1. Identification

    • Knee pads act as a shock absorber so that the wearer's kneecaps receive less or no strain. They are constructed of different material blends including polyester, cotton and spandex with the padding made of foam, gel or hard shell material. Most knee pads come with adjustable and flexible straps that wrap around the back of the knee to hold them in place. Other knee pads form part of a bandage-style wrap that goes around the knee area.

    Sports

    • Athletes use knee pads for various sports and recreation including volleyball, rollerblading, basketball, snowboarding, soccer, wrestling, baseball and football. In addition to impact protection, knee pads aid in providing pressure and body heat retention on the knee joint area. Compression helps to provide support and relieve aches, while heat retention provides warmth when pads are used for colder activities like snowboarding on snow slopes or training outdoors during the colder months. Some knee pads offer ventilation to keep players cool.

      The pads vary in construction depending on the sport; materials used include neoprene, foam pads, stretch fabrics and moisture-wicking pad linings. You do not have to be a professional athlete to benefit from knee pads -- recreational basketballers, snowboarders and other sports enthusiasts benefit from using knee pads not only because of their padding but also because they give the wearer confidence against experiencing falls and abrasions.

    Construction

    • Knee pads are common among those who work in the construction field. Construction workers often need to be in a kneeling position for long periods of time to fix or build projects, and the pads help to protect their knees from hard surfaces. Types of heavy-duty construction knee pads include gel pads, foam pads, fluid-pack pads and fabric-cap pads. Different types of fabric caps are available to avoid scratching floor surfaces while on the job.

    Home and Garden

    • Knee pads are also used for gardening and home repairs. Gardening requires kneeling on dirt or hard surfaces for digging through dirt, planting new flowers or removing weeds and old plants. The pads protect the gardener from the hard ground while also reducing dirt stains on clothing.

      Knee pads are also useful for home projects like painting and flooring. These activities involve kneeling for prolonged periods of time, which requires knee protection. Home and garden knee pads are typically made of foam or hard-shelled materials.