Best Tennis Elbow Brace
What is tennis elbow, and how can I prevent it from happening to me?
If tennis elbow is a pain in your life, you are not alone. This injury can be caused by the repetitive use of muscles on the outside of the elbow joint, overuse, or sudden trauma. Symptoms include a bony lump on the inside of your upper arm, pain when lifting objects below shoulder height, and tenderness when pressure is applied to this area.
If you have been experiencing these symptoms for more than six weeks, then tennis elbow may be what you’re dealing with!
If you want to prevent tennis elbow from happening to you, there are a few things that you can do. These include avoiding repetitive arm movements in tennis strokes and racquet sports and keeping your wrist straight during these activities. One more thing is using additional support around your bicep when playing — this will help absorb some of the stress caused by gripping the racket tightly. A tennis elbow strap, sleeve, or brace can help prevent your elbow from overextending and reduce pressure on overused muscles.
The first step in treating tennis elbow is to understand what type of tennis elbow brace will work best for your situation–that’s where we come in! By reviewing different types of tennis elbow braces on the market and tips for prevention, we’ll help you find a solution that will work best.
The best 5 braces for tennis elbow on amazon. Reviews with pros and cons listed.
SIMIEN Tennis Elbow Brace (2-Count)
This SIMIEN brace is designed to gently wrap the upper arm and provide pressure to reduce muscle tension for elbow extension relief. This bracing doesn’t cut off circulation while allowing your arm a full range of motion in the game. Features a sturdy and adjustable strap for maximum comfort and support. That’s not even counting an extra surprise: this brace comes with a free E-Book with instructions on how to address tennis elbow pain. However, the brace has a slightly narrow width, so you should target the exact spot when putting it on.
Pros:
- Pain relief for elbow hyperextension
- It doesn’t cut off circulation or has a tourniquet effect on your forearm
- Sturdy, adjustable strap
- You can get TWO elbow braces for a much lower price
- A bonus E-book entitled “Addressing Tennis Elbow Pain”
Cons:
- The narrow width of the brace
- Tends to stretch after several weeks of using
Rehband Unisex’s Rx Neoprene Elbow Support
This Rehband compression sleeve adds the protection and stability you need to your workout routine. It features a stylish 3D design that you can wear on both elbows.
The sleeve provides full-range compression while being engineered from the breathable and sweat-absorbing elastic blend. Not only will you reap the benefits of improved blood circulation, but it can also help decrease muscle soreness in the forearm and elbow area.
But keep in mind, some reviewers share that it didn’t have the right pressure in the areas it’s needed to be applied.
Pros:
- Relieves soreness effectively
- Breathable and sweat-absorbing material
- Thick and elastic
Cons:
- Compression is too small in certain areas
- Wears out quickly
Elbow Support Brace For Joint Pain – Compression Elbow Sleeve
The Compression Elbow Sleeve brings proper support and relief so you can keep the pace up for longer.
This product is made of four-way stretch compression fabric that tightens around your arms while staying breathable.
The elbow brace stabilizes the joint, reducing the chance of injury while improving blood circulation for increased performance. Its superior materials provide exceptional durability for lasting use.
Beware, some buyers claim it does not fit correctly on individuals with different sized arms or girth.
Pros:
- Stabilizes the joint and reduces the chance of injury
- Well-ventilated, breathable fabric
- Sturdy, durable material
Cons:
- It isn’t sized correctly
- A little thick
- Not suitable for all your workout needs
Mcdavid Tennis Elbow Support Strap with Targeted Pressure
This Mcdavid brace has an inner gel pad for targeted compression, which will give you relief from tennis elbow or tendonitis.
Since it stimulates blood flow and improves circulation, it’s perfect for alleviating the inflammation caused by injuries or arthritis aches and pains.
In addition, the comfortable strap allows you to adjust your brace so that it really works well in all game situations or during everyday practice. The breathable fabric keeps you cool and dry, so all your worries about smelly gear are gone. Before using it’s best to use Google to figure out how as no instructions are included.
Pros:
- Inner gel pad for pain relief
- Wide, adjustable strap
- Breathable, odor-resistant material
Cons:
- Tends to slide down the arm
- May be challenging to put on by yourself
- The strap is too wide for small forearms
- No instructions included
Reebok Speedwick Supports – Knee and Elbow
The Reebok Speedwick Elbow Brace Support is the perfect partner for your elbow pain.
It’s flexible, comfortable and provides stability along with support to your lower arm joints while relieving pressure for enhanced movement.
The brace was designed to be breathable and form fitting so that you can train harder knowing your arm muscles are well supported.
The 4-way compression sleeve has a special anti-slip system, which makes it efficient for any arm. If you are thinking of buying these, some buyers recommend to order the next size up.
Pros:
- 4-way compression sleeve
- Minimizes injury
- Anti-slip system
Cons:
- May feel too tight
- The material iches, when heating up
- The woven texture might be uncomfortuble on your skin
FAQs about elbow braces in general
Are tennis elbow braces effective?
Yes. Tennis elbow braces are effective in preventing tennis elbow as they provide support and compression to the arm muscles. Which in turn helps prevent injury.
How does tennis elbow brace work?
Tennis elbow brace is applied to the tennis elbow to ensure protection and support. It is a band that supports the tennis arm by providing compression over the area where injury may occur.
Where to place and how to wear tennis elbow brace for the best results?
You should place the brace on the arm with a tennis elbow and wrap it around for support. The particular tennis related injury needs to be supported by the brace. It is important that it is not too tight in order for blood circulation to flow smoothly through the area as well as provide comfort when wearing it.
Should I wear my tennis elbow brace all the time?
No. You should wear tennis elbow brace only when needed.
It should be worn for at least 15 minutes, three times a day to promote healing and provide relief from pain and inflammation.
Remember to loosen straps if you are experiencing too much pressure on your arm as it may cause long-term injury due to lack of blood flow in the area.
What are the types of elbow braces?
The types of elbow braces include elbow sleeves, wraps, and straps. Elbow sleeves are the most popular type of tennis elbow braces. Wraps and straps are often used for more serious tennis elbow injuries, while tennis elbow sleeves are recommended to provide support during the healing process without restricting mobility.
What are the materials in a tennis elbow brace?
Tennis elbow brace is made of a wide variety of materials. For tennis elbow sleeves, the material is usually neoprene or lycra because they are lightweight and offer support for tennis elbow symptoms while allowing mobility.
For wraps and straps, common materials include nylon mesh or elastic due to their ability to provide compression without restricting movement.
What are the drawbacks of using an elbow brace as opposed to other methods of treatment?
A tennis brace is also typically recommended only as a temporary solution and should be used in conjunction with rest, icing, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy exercises and stretching techniques to address the underlying cause of tennis elbow symptoms.
Which is better: tennis elbow brace or sleeve?
The choice depends on the level of comfort for the tennis player.
The elbow brace can limit flexion and extension of the arm. But it guarantees support under the forearm for tennis players who can’t really use their dominant hand to provide any grip or control on a racquet handle.
A sleeve, however, is more flexible and provides less constriction than an elbow brace as it’s wide enough to cover not only a tennis elbow but also tennis shoulder. It’s a good choice for people with tennis elbow, who can’t have any restriction on their arm movement since it’s not just tennis elbow that they’re dealing with.
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is a condition that develops from repetitive tennis or golf-specific motions. It is a swelling of the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. It commonly affects one arm in particular and predominantly those who are avid tennis players.
Symptoms of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow symptoms include pain on the outside of the elbow joint and difficulty gripping tennis racquets or holding heavy objects.
The pain can be severe enough to make it difficult to sleep, work, or complete household tasks with your affected arm only.
Some tennis players will find that their grip strength is reduced by up to 50%. This causes them trouble when they need to hold onto something for a long period of time such as driving or using tools at home.
Pain from tennis elbow may also extend into the lower forearm (especially on the inner side) and even down into your hand where you might experience numbness in some fingers too.
If ignored, this condition can affect muscles throughout your entire upper body including neck and shoulder area causing muscle strain, headaches and pain.
Causes of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is mostly caused by tennis players who repeatedly grip their tennis racquet or other object with the same hand which places undue strain on your muscles and tendons.
This can also occur if you work in an occupation where there are a lot of repetitive motions such as carpentry, roofing or factory jobs.
For some people the cause may not be known but it typically starts after periods of heavy usage and exercise.
How to fix tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is a common problem that can be fixed with tennis elbow braces, wraps or straps.
Braces are preventative and protective to reduce muscle strain, pain and discomfort caused by repetitive motions while working or playing tennis.
Wraps help provide relief from the symptoms of tennis elbow with compressive support for muscles, joints, tendons or nerves in your arm.
Tennis elbow stretches
Tennis elbow stretches are a good way to get relief from tennis elbow symptoms.
— Hold a rolled-up sock / tennis ball. Make a fist around it and squeeze. Hold the squeeze for 5 seconds. Relax. Repeat x10.
— Straighten your arm fully. Relax your wrist. Use your other hand to gently pull your fingers towards you. Feel a stretch in your wrist muscles.
Try these stretch exercises twice a day. You will notice less pain over several weeks.
Tennis elbow exercises
You can try the following tennis elbow exercises to promote blood flow and decrease tennis elbow pain:
– Using a tennis ball, hold it in your palm with the tennis elbow side up. Squeeze it from time to time until you feel the pressure point release tension on that area of your arm.
– Try banding (wrapping) an elastic band around the wrist of one hand so there is about two inches excess extending down towards the ground at each end; stretch out both arms perpendicular to your body and then rotate the arm with the tennis elbow brace from a palm-down position until it is parallel to the ground.
– Bend your wrist backwards, bending at least 90 degrees in one motion; hold this stretch for 30 seconds or as long as you can without discomfort.
– Extend hand so that fingers point downward and make “come here” sign against side of opposite shoulder blade while slowly rotating away from original starting point; repeat on other side.
You must exercise regularly to stop your pain from returning.