You might have heard of “tennis elbow,” or tendinitis. Many athletes who play sports that include repetitive swinging are vulnerable to painful inflammation of the tendons that support the elbow joint. Basketball, golf, and baseball players all commonly report pain, especially in their dominant arm, stemming from repetitive movements and overuse. Inflammation in the tendons that meet in the elbow causes pain that can even spread into other parts of the arm.
Tendinitis isn’t the only injury that can happen to the elbow. Both athletes and non-athletes can experience tearing of the ligaments through falls, fractures. sprains, or bursitis, creating frustrating, even debilitating pain. Elbow pain disrupts everyday tasks like grabbing a mug from the cupboard, using utensils to eat, even sleeping. So how can you get this essential body part back into peak working condition?
Name |
Picture |
Cost |
Best Feature |
Current Price |
| Crucial Compression Elbow Sleeve |   |
$ | Comes as a 2 Pack, Warranty | See Current Price |
| Sparthos Elbow Compression Sleeve |   |
$ | Comes as a 2 Pack, Durability | See Current Price |
| Venom Elbow Compression Sleeve |   |
$ | Quality of the Material | See Current Price |
| Nordic Lifting Elbow Compression Sleeves |   |
$ | Comes as a 2 Pack, Comfortable | See Current Price |
| Bucwild Sports Compression Arm Sleeve |   |
$ | Most Color Options | See Current Price |
What is an Elbow Compression Sleeve?
Compression sleeves are made of elastic, flexible material, such as nylon or spandex, that literally compresses muscles, ligaments, and blood vessels in order to cause blood to flow more rapidly toward the heart. This increased circulation speeds up healing and helps get you on the road to recovery sooner. Additionally, compression sleeves help calm down the nervous by making it feel more stable. This helps decrease the pain levels and allows for more movement.
Benefits of an Elbow Compression Sleeve
Deceptively simple, compression sleeves provide a number of incredible healing benefits:
- By cutting down the friction between tendons, a compression sleeve reduces inflammation and can help prevent injury in the first place.
- Compressing the muscles that meet at the elbow increases the flow of blood throughout the arm. This improved circulation speeds up healing and helps get you on the road to recovery sooner.
- You might not even realize how much you’re using your elbow, but repetitive movements have a cumulative effect. A sleeve helps provide stability to the muscles, leading to less friction and lower levels of pain.
- A compression sleeve helps deoxygenated blood and lactic acid return to the heart, speeding up recovery and reducing muscle soreness.
Anatomy of the Elbow and Common Elbow Injuries
When the bones, cartilage, and ligaments are healthy, you hardly notice the elbow’s delicate engineering. And yet, when something’s off, it’s hard to notice anything else.
Functioning like a door hinge, the elbow joint connects three bones: the humerus, ulna, and radius. Sheathed in cartilage to absorb shock, the humerus and ulna are joined by the medial collateral ligament on the inside of the joint and the lateral collateral ligament on the outside of the joint. The annular ligament joins the radius and ulna.
Some common elbow injuries include:
- Tendinitis, also called tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
- Bursitis (joint inflammation)
- Sprain
- Stress fracture
- Dislocation
The Best Elbow Compression Sleeve
Crucial Elbow Compression Sleeve
The Crucial Compression Sleeve boasts breathability and moisture-wicking qualities. It’s lightweight and can be worn under your clothes. One of the best details is that this sleeve comes as a pair so you will have a back up or can use on the other arm. It also comes with a 100% money back guarantee so you can return it if there is any problems.
Pros: Durable, lightweight, reduces pain from working out
Cons: Very tight initially; may cause itchiness
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Sparthos Elbow Compression Sleeve
The Sparthos Elbow Compression Sleeve offers “targeted” compression and a seamless design. Made from an elastic blend, the fabric is breathable. Additionally, you can wear the sleeve at the gym or at the office.
Pros: Less restrictive than some other elbow braces, helps alleviate pain in the whole arm, and comes in a variety of colors
Cons: Product tag can snag on clothing; choosing the right size can be a challenge
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Venom Elbow Brace Compression Sleeve
The Venom Elbow Brace boasts heat retention for pain reduction, and the anti-slip design reduces the need to readjustment in the middle of a workout. It also comes with a recovery guide that includes exercises to relieve elbow pain.
Pros: Comes in a variety of sizes; responsive customer service
Cons: Can cause itchiness
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Nordic Lifting Elbow Compression Sleeve
The Nordic Lifting Elbow Compression sleeve is made from a blend of nylon, spandex, and latex, the Nordic professes an ergonomic “perfect fit”.
Pros: Comes in a pair and includes a one-year manufacturer’s warranty; longer than other compression sleeves
Cons: Some users report decreased circulation and a tight fit
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Bucwild Sports Compression Arm Sleeve
If you’re looking to add a dash of camouflage to your workout gear, the Bucwild Sports Compression Sleeve offers almost 30 different color combinations and a no-slip silicone band.
Pros: Comes in both youth and adult sizes; provides both compression and skin protection
Cons: Order includes just one sleeve; may not hold elasticity over long-term use
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Conclusion:
Elbow injuries can cause pain that ranges from annoying to debilitating, but there is hope for relief. Compression sleeves allow for better circulation, reduced inflammation and pain, and increased mobility over time.
Works Cited:
https://www.fleetfeet.com/s/hartford/sports-medicine/sports-medicine-corner/compression
https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/elbow-pain/basics/causes/sym-20050874
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for educational purposes only. This is not a substitute for a medical appointment. Please refer to your physician before starting any exercise program.
