Why Bearhug knee supports are a valuable walking companion
, by Rhys George, 4 min reading time
The average adult walks around 75,000 miles in their lifetime. This is equal to travelling around the world three times! Impressive right? The knees bear a lot of the brunt when walking, which makes them susceptible to injury and wear and tear. Think about it: you wouldn’t drive your car that far without changing the tyres a few times, so why expect your body to be able to carry you the same distance without some TLC?
If you like to walk to keep fit, it’s likely your lifetime mileage is higher than average. Naturally, this also raises your risk of injury. Whether you stick to easy terrains or more challenging routes with steep hills and uneven surfaces, your knees will still be put to the test. Having well-fitting and supportive footwear will give you some extra stability and absorb shock, but it won’t take the pressure off the knees completely. This is where our Bearhug knee supports come in. As well as providing you with support when hiking and walking, they can help prevent injury. Continue reading to learn more about why our knee supports are the walking companions you can’t afford to be without!
Knee injuries and walking
Before we get stuck into why our knee supports are the perfect addition to your walking routine, it’s important to know why knee injuries are so prominent in walking. When hiking on flat ground, the level of force on your knee joints is 1.5 times your body weight. This goes up to between two and three times your body weight when you walk at an incline. Simply put, walking puts a load of strain on your knees. This alone means injuries and pain resulting from walking are common.
Cartilage in the knee is its natural shock absorber but can become inflamed or worn when walking over rugged terrains, making injuries more likely.
Common knee injuries include:
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Ligament damage
- Meniscus tear
- Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)
- Osteoarthritis
Naturally, your knees will experience wear and tear as you get older, which increases your risk of injury. This means it’s even more important to protect your knees as much as you can when you are out walking or hiking.
Pair up with Bearhug knee supports for walking: your perfect companion
No matter the type of walking you do, whether it’s a light walk after work or on your lunch break, walking the dog across the fields, or a more intense hike that takes the full day, maintaining stability and protecting your knee joints is made easy with our knee supports. Here are a few reasons why they are a valuable addition to your walking gear.
Compression when you need it
Wearing a knee support when walking or hiking applies compression to help relieve pressure on the joints. This compression boosts blood flow to help reduce inflammation and swelling, which can help kickstart your recovery post-hike.
Increased stability
Our knee supports help keep your knees stable, which is essential when it comes to keeping strain at a minimum while you’re active. This is particularly important if you have an existing knee condition that you don’t want to exacerbate.
Increased circulation and blood flow
Our knee supports are made with special 3D knitting technology. This promotes circulation which keeps the knees warm and improves muscle elasticity, which is particularly helpful if you experience stiffness in the knee joint. It also helps to drive oxygenated blood to the knee area to prevent soreness from inflammation and bring down swelling.
Prevents injury
There is a misconception out there that knee supports should only be used if you already have an injury. This is not true, as wearing a knee support can help prevent injury to the knee when walking, thanks to its precise compression and circulation-boosting qualities.
Pain relief and recovery
By increasing blood flow to the knee area, our supports help to relieve pain and kickstart your recovery. This is helpful for those living with inflamed knees or for people who just want to recover from their exercise quickly.
Comfortable hard-wearing design
There’s no point wearing a knee support if it’s just going to irritate you all day, slip out of place, or be a general annoyance. Bearhug knee supports are built with your comfort in mind. They’re hard-wearing and durable, meaning they can stand up to repeated wear and washing without losing shape. What’s more, they’re made from bamboo, which is hypoallergenic, so you won’t experience any irritation when wearing it.
What are you waiting for? Protect your knees when walking with one of our Bearhug knee supports today!
