Elbow pain often creeps into your daily life without you noticing, in most cases. After a long day of working, you might think, “Maybe I’m just tired, or I’ve done too much today.” After waking up, the pain or discomfort can be persistent, making your usual daily tasks difficult or impossible to do at times.
This is when elbow supports play a role in providing you with support, protection, and relief from discomfort or pain. The most crucial point is to understand which one to use for your specific elbow pain.
In this blog, we’ll explore the different tennis elbow bands for pain relief and which is better for your condition.
Is elbow wrap good for tennis elbow, or do I need a strap?
A tennis elbow strap is often better for tennis elbow than an elbow wrap. This is because it applies compression on the forearm muscle, particularly redirecting strain/overuse, soreness, or pressure away from the painful tendon.
Meanwhile, an elbow wrap offers broad compression and less targeted force relief. Thus, a strap is ideal for tennis elbow, especially when doing activities that intensify/worsen pain, like sports that involve gripping and lifting.
Can I wear an elbow sleeve all day for tennis elbow?
Basically, it’s not always recommended to wear an elbow sleeve all day long, even when managing tennis elbow pain. However, seek your doctor’s approval to determine whether you can wear the elbow sleeve all day. This gives effective results, as you will be wearing it according to your activity level.
The severity of your tennis elbow, healing progress, and daily activities determine how long you should wear it per day. Without approval from your doctor/physiotherapist, avoid wearing it continuously throughout the day. If the pain is mild, you may be advised to wear it for a shorter period of time than when it is frequently aching.
Wear the elbow sleeve in intervals of not more than two to three hours during the day to prevent muscle overdependence. Use the belt as a tool to help you enhance daily performance during activities that involve rapid forearm mobility, like typing, gripping, throwing, etc.
Remove it when you’re resting to allow your elbow muscles to breathe and naturally strengthen. Use elbow sleeves with skin-friendly materials. You can consider Leeford Ortho elbow supports that are made with lightweight fabrics. This feature helps you to wear any of them during activities without experiencing skin irritations.
When should I choose a strap instead of a wrap/sleeve for lateral epicondylitis?
Choose a strap during activities that irritate or apply stress to the extensor muscles, i.e., repetitive-strike sports, heavy lifting, typing, or chopping while cooking. A strap offers targeted relief for overuse pain, unlike a wrap/sleeve, which offers broad support. When experiencing frequent flare-ups, a strap applies localized pressure for quicker and more effective relief.
How tight should a tennis elbow strap be—can it be too tight?
Your tennis elbow strap shouldn’t be too tight, as this can impair blood flow to your forearm muscles. Too much tightness might lead to slower recovery, skin irritation, or worsened pain/swelling. Aim for firm pressure without flexibility or movement restriction. You will start to sense or feel coldness/numbness/tingling in your hand when the strap is too tight. Also, a discoloration (mostly blue, pale, or red) may be a sign that your strap is too tight.
Is a strap better for gripping pain (gym/tennis) than a wrap?
When used correctly, both elbow straps and elbow wraps can be useful for gripping pain during gym or tennis activities. However, most people prefer using a strap as it applies focused pressure, necessary for quicker strain alleviation during gripping.
Can an elbow wrap help swelling and soreness better than a strap?
An elbow wrap is often ideal for swelling better than an elbow strap. This is because it offers broad compression across the entire joint, which improves blood circulation and helps minimize fluid retention. It provides warmth, which helps to alleviate soreness in the forearm tendons and surrounding tissues. When choosing an elbow wrap, consider a Leeford Ortho Tennis Elbow Wrap, which is anatomically designed with neoprene and skin-friendly materials.
Do tennis elbow straps work for golfer’s elbow too?
Tennis elbow straps also work on golfers' elbows just as they do for tennis elbow. While a tennis elbow is outside of the elbow, a golfer’s wrist is inside the elbow region. This means that the strap applies pressure inside the flexor tendons of the forearm.
Tennis elbow straps alleviate pain by applying targeted pressure to the forearm tendons, offloading pressure at the tendon’s anchor point. It’s important to note that while they offer relief for pain, they do not offer temporary relief for overuse conditions. Thus, engaging in forearm-strengthening exercises or activities contributes to long-term healing.
Can I sleep with an elbow wrap or sleeve on?
It’s not medically suggested to sleep with an elbow wrap or sleeve on, as this may interfere with your progressive healing response. Continuous compression may lead to muscle weakness or overdependence. Pressure from the sleeve/wrap might also cause stiffness since your arm is mostly static during sleep, particularly when it’s worn tightly. Always consult with your healthcare provider.
How long should I use an elbow strap/wrap before seeing improvement?
In most cases, the severity of your pain or discomfort determines the timeline when you will start to notice improvement. In serious or severe elbow pain, you can notice improvement after a week or a couple of weeks of using an elbow strap/wrap constantly. When experiencing mild symptoms, it might take a few days to feel relief from the elbow strap/wrap.
What are the common mistakes people make when using a tennis elbow strap or wrap?
There are several mistakes made by people when using elbow supports (straps/wraps), and these include:
- Placing the strap/wrap on the wrong region
- Wearing it too loose or too tight
- Not paying attention to discomfort
- Wearing it continuously without a doctor’s guidance
Final Thoughts
When you reach a point of comparing which is better, a tennis elbow strap vs an elbow wrap, always prioritize consulting your healthcare provider for effective advice. A suitable or better support is often determined by the severity of your pain, activity level, and recovery progress.
If you have tennis elbow pain or golfer's elbow pain, you might be advised to wear elbow straps while working out or playing tennis. They apply targeted compression, which helps to alleviate localized pain effectively.
On the other hand, elbow wraps are often recommended when dealing with swelling or soreness, as they offer broad compression to elbow ligaments and surrounding tissues. While choosing the best or most effective elbow support, consider medical-certified elbow wraps, sleeves, binders, or sleeves from Leeford Ortho. Making smart and informed choices can help you get better or feel better faster.
