By knowing how to wrap a knee, you can help limit swelling after an injury or decrease osteoarthritis pain by supporting and stabilizing your knee joint. It is important to wrap your knee correctly so that you do not restrict motion or reduce blood and lymph flow.
This article discusses what conditions can benefit from knee wrapping, at least initially. It also walks you through the steps of how to wrap your knee. Medical disposable sheets
If you have been experiencing significant knee pain or stiffness that is interfering with your ability to perform everyday tasks—making it uncomfortable to sit, stand, or walk—you should schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider to address your symptoms.
Wrapping your knee with an elastic bandage can help provide relief when it hurts and stability with external support for your knee joint.
While it may offer benefits for people living with knee conditions or injuries, such as degenerative meniscus damage, much of the research on bandaging for knees is inconclusive. In cases of patellofemoral arthrosis (front knee pain), studies find wrapping is not recommended.
Conditions for which you might try wrapping your knee include:
In cases where there's clearly a knee deformity, a locked joint, or extreme pain that keeps you from standing or walking, see a healthcare provider.
The best way to wrap your knee is to secure a bandage around your knee with enough tension so that it is secured in place and provides slight compression without restricting movement or blood flow.
Most elastic bandages range from 2 to 6 inches in width and are between 4 and 6 feet long to ensure adequate length to wrap around the body several times. Be sure to choose the right size for a knee; it should feel snug but not so tight as to cause pain or cut off your circulation.
You should be able to bend your knee without feeling like your range of motion is restricted when wearing a knee wrap. The knee wrap should provide support and stability to your knee joint, but should not make it difficult to move your knee.
If you are unable to bend your knee adequately, your body will often compensate with other movements, which can cause pain or other problems with your hips and lower back. Other things to watch out for include pain, throbbing, pale skin, and other signs that you wrapped your knee too tightly.
If you are wrapping your knee to help decrease swelling, it is also helpful to apply ice and elevate your leg to decrease inflammation and reduce fluid build-up (or accumulation) in the knee. Resting your knee after an acute injury can also help minimize inflammation and aid in the recovery process.
Don't use a wrap for more than 48 hours. Contact your healthcare provider to talk about your knee symptoms.
If you have arthritis, you can wrap your knee and wear the bandage throughout the day to help with walking and other weight-bearing activities. Remove the bandage at night to reduce arterial compression and prevent skin irritation. Or, you may want to loosen the bandage, but be sure to follow your healthcare provider's direction.
Knowing how to wrap your knee is a useful first aid skill when you experience an injury, as well as in treating or preventing pain with chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. But it's important to be sure you wrap the knee correctly.
When following the proper steps and applying a knee wrap, you can limit pain, swelling, and inflammation of the knee. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider to discuss your condition and ensure an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Henriksen M, Skou ST.Bandages for knee problems.Weekly Laeger.2017 Sep 18;179(38):V04170316.Danish.PMID: 28918790.
Willy RW, Hoglund LT, Barton CJ, Bolgla LA, Scalzitti DA, Logerstedt DS, Lynch AD, Snyder-Mackler L, McDonough CM. Patellofemoral Pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Sep;49(9):CPG1-CPG95. doi:10.2519/jospt.2019.0302
Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, Oatis C, Guyatt G, Block J, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2020 Feb;72(2):149-162. doi:10.1002/acr.24131
By Kristen Gasnick, PT, DPT Kristen Gasnick, PT, DPT, is a medical writer and a physical therapist at Holy Name Medical Center in New Jersey.
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