Instead, they’re best suited for use during activities that cause discomfort.Ĭompression sleeves are specialized lightweight garments that cover a targeted area of an individual’s body, such as an arm, leg, hand, or chest, to apply pressure, which helps increase blood circulation.įor athletes, there is a range of practical benefits. As a result, they only cover a small portion of your arm and may lack adequate support for some individuals.įinally, wearing tennis elbow braces for extended periods is generally not recommended. On a related note, many people have difficulty determining how to wear a tennis elbow brace properly, as finding the ideal placement necessary for relief can be tricky.Īnother downside to tennis elbow braces is that they’re usually only a few inches wide. Unfortunately, some players struggle with keeping tennis elbow braces snuggly in place, resulting in frustration and lower efficacy as accurate placement ensures optional results. One of the benefits of tennis elbow braces is that they offer targeted support and pain relief without covering your elbow, which helps ensure proper range of motion, which is particularly important for tennis players.Īdditionally, the level of force applied by the brace can be easily adjusted by the individual using the device, which is beneficial to achieve optimal comfort and support for a wide range of individuals.įinally, even the best tennis elbow braces are relatively inexpensive and easy to experiment with to determine if they offer any benefit. Here are a few of my favorite tennis elbow straps:

In other words, a tennis elbow brace applies constant pressure to the muscles and tendons of your arm to reduce pain and discomfort. It has been substantiated, that such a band can reduce the percentage of the elongation and force generation made by musculotendinous fibers above the orthosis.” It applies a binding force over the wrist extensor muscle mass at their proximal origin (this is also known as a counterforce orthosis). You should see a doctor if conservative treatments such as rest and ice don’t provide much relief.Ī proper diagnosis can help ensure you have the necessary support, save you money from buying unnecessary products, and confirm you’re tackling the problem with the best possible treatment.Ī tennis elbow brace, or counterforce brace, is one of the most common devices for reducing discomfort, especially while engaging in repetitive activity causing issues, such as tennis.Īccording to an article in the US National Library of Medicine, “an elbow band (strap) is a common device which is worn below the elbow.

Of course, tennis elbow isn’t the only condition that can cause pain or a burning sensation in your arm.

Pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow.The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ( AAOS) suggests that common symptoms might include: Virtually any repetitive activity that uses the hands, wrist, and arms can cause people, including golfers, volleyball players, and basketball players, to develop painful symptoms.īeyond sports, additional examples of at-risk people include sewists, chefs, baristas, hairstylists, and electricians. Before diving deep into the differences between tennis elbow braces and compression sleeves, let’s level set on definitions.Īccording to the Mayo Clinic, “tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.”Īlthough common among tennis players, the condition isn’t exclusive to the sport.

Elbow compression sleeve or elbow brace