Elbow compression sleeves are more and more common among office workers and athletes. These people use their arms every day, and as a result one of their most important joints- their elbow requires special attention. The best elbow compression sleeves can help prevent injuries and long lasting damage.
Probably you have seen athletes, most notably tennis and basketball players wear elbow compression sleeves on tv. The most famous example might be Allen Iverson, who made elbow sleeves famous by making them fashion craze among NBA players. Since then the likes of Dwayne Wade and LeBron James have followed suit.
Although fashionable, the best elbow compression sleeves have medical purposes. They reduce swelling, inflammation and muscle pain.
What is the purpose of the best elbow compression sleeves?
Elbows are one of the most used joints in the body. You use them every time you move your lower arm. It is no surprise that manual labourers, athletes and the elderly need special protection to take care of this vital joint.
Ligaments surrounding the joints are responsible for connecting the muscles to each other. Joints connect the bones to one another. The ligaments can get inflamed, aggravated through overworking, or excessive use. The effects take a long time to heal.
The elbow sleeve provides special support to the ligaments, reducing their possible range of motion. The best compression elbow sleeves speed up the recovery of inflamed ligaments, as they increase the blood flow to the area. The ligaments receive more nutrition, and the T-cells can access the area easier.
Their material makeup of the best elbow sleeves can be quite varied. Some are made of neoprene, others of lycra or polyamids. However they are all stretchable, breathable fabrics that hold your elbow joint firmly, without seriously affecting your ability to move.
The best elbow compression sleeves use graduated compression. This type aids blood circulation the most without restricting your range of motion or putting too much pressure on the muscles.
What kind of conditions do elbow compression sleeves treat?
Arthritis
Arthritis is a term used for referring to any condition affecting the joints. There are over 100 types of arthritis according to Wikipedia. The most common symptoms are stiffness and joint pain, but the patient can experience warmth, decreased range of motion, and in severe cases even the muscles can be affected.
It is a common injury, and should not be taken lightly. It is the largest cause of disability among Americans, causing more than $100 billion in lost earnings every year to American citizens.
Bursitis
Bursitis is the inflammation of the small sacs between the joints. These sacs are filled with fluid, which acts as a lubricant during movement. These small sacs are referred to as bursae, hence the name of the condition.
The condition causes severe pain in the joints, since the bourse are inflamed, and it gets harder for the bones to move. The condition doesn’t heal easily on its own, as using the joint only makes it more inflamed. The constant rubing of the tendons on the bursae doesn’t let them heal.
In severe cases the treatment of the condition requires antibiotic therapy, but copper infused compression sleeves can do a world of good toward healing this condition. Physiotherapy is also a common treatment.
Tendonitis
The best elbow compression sleeves can be just as helpful in treating tendonitis. This condition covers tendon injuries that are accompanied by inflammation according to Wikipedia. This injury most commonly affects the elbow, the tendons in the lower arm and the wrist. It is common to see cubicle workers develop tendonitis from typing, while basketball and volleyball players are common sufferers from ankle tendonitis.
Tendonitis can appear in other parts of your body too. If you struggle with foot pain, either calf compression sleeves or foot compression sleeves can provide helpful treatment.
Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is a minor injury that affects 3% of the American male population between ages 30 and 50. According to WebMD only 5% of the cases appear as a result of playing tennis. A sure sign of the condition is a small pinching pain on the outside of your elbow, where tendons connect to the bone. As a result of constant, monotone use small tears appear in the tendon and the muscle it connects to. That is why it affects anybody who does repetitive motions with his arm, such as assembly workers, lumberjacks and cooks.
Golf elbow is a similar injury. Golfers can get it through having poor swing posture as well as using oversized golf clubs. The condition can get worse if the patient grips too hard on the club, or holds the club too stiffly during his swing.
Treating elbow tendonitis
Elbow tendonitis treatment has many ways. While most doctors would recommend anti inflammatory drugs coming mostly in the form of paste that you have to apply to the inflamed tendon, or pills, there are less agressive methods.
Elevating the inflamed body part can be useful, but it is not really realistic. After all, office workers can’t spend their whole day with their hands over their head.
Compression therapy is a common way to deal with this condition. Choosing the best elbow compression sleeve can significantly speed up your recovery from tendonitis.
Other benefits
A less commonly recognised, but not less important benefit of the best elbow compression sleeves is that they keep your elbows warm. A common problem if you exercise outside, is the cooling of the muscles. Even in the gym after you warm up you might not start using your elbows straight away. In that case elbow compression sleeves can help keep the most important joint in your arms warm.
Which are the traits of the best elbow compression sleeves?
The best elbow compression sleeves have high copper content. There used to be debate whether copper infused compression sleeves really worked, but the science is conclusive. These products are not a simple craze, they actually help treat tendonitis and other elbow conditions.
What are the exact benefits of copper? There are multiple, it has antibacterial benefits, it fights body odour.
This claim has been well studied. The most cited study in the subject was performed by Grass, Rensing and Solioz in 2011. They concluded:
Bacteria, yeasts, and viruses are rapidly killed on metallic copper surfaces, and the term “contact killing” has been coined for this process.
While you are engaging in sports and outdoor activities, bacteria can start growing in your sweat. Wearing copper infused compression sleeves is one of the best steps you can take to have better skin hygiene.
The Best Elbow Compression Sleeve:
Copper Compression Gear Premium Recovery Elbow Sleeve
The company guarantees that these are the compression elbow sleeves with the highest copper content on the market. 88% of the sleeve is copper – nylon mix.
The Copper Compression sleeves give your arms the support they need without restricting their movement in any way.
Check out further reviews and pricing on Amazon.
Copper Compression Elbow Sleeve
These sleeves guaranteed to have the highest copper content out of any compression elbow sleeves on the market. The copper is important in order to provide a perfect fit for the sleeve on your arm.
These sleeves treat a number of elbow conditions, such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, osteoporosis.
This is a great model to start supporting your aching joints and muscles. The compression technology increases your blood flow to the inflamed area. The blood flow increases thanks to the pressure the sleeves put on your elbow, which helps the nutritions get to the inflamed area.
Check out further reviews and product information on Amazon
Even though the model holds your arm tightly, it doesn’t affect your range of motion. You will be able to use them all day long. The material of the sleeves is so durable that you can wash them over and over without them loosing their structure.
Nordic Lifting Elbow Compression Sleeves
Apart from preventing injuries, they speed up recovery since the compression technology relieves soreness while aiding muscle rehabilitation. The material of the sleeves retains heat, thereby keeping your muscles warm.
Event hough they are comfortable, they hold your elbow tightly without restricting its movement. The material is premium nylon. Its ergonomic sleeve design provides extra comfort as well as a perfect fit.
The company is so confident in these lifting elbow compression sleeves, that they offer a one year money back guarantee. In case the sleeves feel uncomfortable, you get your money back no questions asked.
Copper Compression Colored Elbow Sleeves
The company guarantees that these sleeves have the highest copper content out of any coloured elbow compression sleeves on the market. If you find a better product, the company will refund your money, no questions asked.
The sleeves use copper ions (Cu+ and Cu++) rather than copper oxide. This guarantees not only higher copper content, but better quality copper too. The material of the sleeves makes them elastic, yet firm. This supports your muscles, but doesn’t restrict your range of motion.
Your muscles might feel sore as a result of intensive workouts. Don’t worry! The compression technology and copper content of these sleeves will freshen up your muscles in no time. Tennis players, weightlifters or golfers of all ages and skill levels can benefit from these sleeves.
Neoprene sleeves
Neoprene sleeves are a simple solution if you want to have your elbows covered with something. They keep them warm and protect them somewhat against injuries, but they are not the best elbow compression sleeves by any stretch. However you can have them for a cut price.
They are unisex, as they usually come in a simple black colour. Their seams are not so well designed, if the sleeves don’t fit perfectly you might experience bruising.
Conclusion
Although the best compression elbow sleeves might be different for everybody, we can make the following conclusions. They are all copper infused. They all feel comfortable yet hold your elbow tightly. Thanks to the benefits of compression technology they help you prevent and recover for conditions such as tennis elbow, golf elbow, arthritis and tendonitis. We have found that the Copper Compression Gear Premium Recovery Elbow Sleeve is the best compression elbow sleeve on the market at the moment.
