Best Elbow Brace | 2022 Guide and Reviews
If you play tennis on a regular basis, the pain of tennis elbow is something you will probably experience at some point. It isn’t just tennis players who can suffer from this ailment, however. If you are using your forearm for any strenuous activity for long enough, you run the risk of developing tennis elbow. However, there is an easy way to remedy the issue and reduce the symptoms of tennis elbow. An elbow brace is a great tennis training aid that very effectively alleviates the severity of tennis elbow, helping you get back to your best in no time at all. Nowadays, there is a huge variety of options on the market, so picking the right elbow brace for you can be a daunting task. To help you make an informed decision, we have put together useful buying guide to help you find the best elbow brace for you.
Tennis Elbow Explained
Tennis elbow presents as a painful sensation on the outside of the elbow itself. Tennis elbow usually occurs when significant stress is placed on your elbow tendons. The most common causes of this stress is overusing your elbow, although overuse of the wrist can also result in the onset of the ailment. It is therefore unsurprising that many tennis players suffer from it, especially when they play from the back hand. A variation of tennis elbow, sometimes referred to as golfer’s elbow, is also common. This variant of the ailment presents as pain on the inside of the elbow, rather than the outside of it. Thankfully, both can be effectively managed by the use of an elbow brace.
Key Components of Elbow Braces
Before you decide on a brace, you need to familiarize yourself with the various elements that make up a complete brace. The armband is the most obvious component of any good brace. The armband will ultimately determine how flexible your brace will be and will also impact comfort levels. A durable armband will also ensure you have a brace that will last for longer. Elastic armbands are arguably the best option available. These types of armband wrap comfortably around the forearm of the wearer, just below the elbow itself. A good armband should grant you enough flexibility so that movement of your arm is not restricted. However, it should also be secure enough that it effectively reduces the stress on your joints and tendons that leads to tennis elbow in the first place.
An elbow brace also includes a pad and sleeve. The pad is particularly crucial when it comes to compression performance and overall comfort. Avoid investing in braces with subpar pads as these are essential in ensuring your elbow is protected during more aggressive play, providing you with essential support at all times. A reliable tennis elbow sleeve needs to include enough padding to ensure your elbow is kept in a stable position for long stretches of time. The sleeve should also allow you to carry out a full swing with minimal pain.
Enhanced Support
If you are looking for superior levels of support, especially when it comes to extending the elbow to a significant degree, you should think about investing in a hinged elbow brace. This style of brace includes a hinge that allows you to extend your elbow freely, without the worry of you exacerbating an existing injury. A hinged brace also prevents you fro overextending the elbow itself, eliminating the chance of you causing significant damage to your tendons and joints.
Elbow Brace Composition
Materials used in the construction of elbow braces varies somewhat, but the vast majority of braces are made from a handful of materials. Neoprene is a commonly utilized material in the manufacturing of elbow braces. This material is very breathable and offers superior levels of moisture absorption, making it a good fit with sporting activities. Neoprene is also a very durable choice of material. It doesn’t stretch like other materials, ensuring the brace consistently supports the elbow, even when worn for long periods of time on a regular basis.
Material blends are commonplace when it comes to producing elbow braces. Spandex and nylon are regularly used together to produce lightweight elbow supports. These composite braces also regulate temperate very effectively, meaning your skin will not overheat and become irritated. The best spandex and nylon elbow braces also boast moisture-wicking properties, keeping your arm dry and comfortable, even if you are playing on particularly hot days.
If you are looking for an elbow brace that excels when it comes to temperature regulation, look for supports made from mesh material. Mesh elbow braces are not only breathable, they are also incredibly flexible. These mesh braces support the element, but allow for a good degree of flexibility, meaning you do not have to worry about limiting yourself on the court.
If you are worried about your brace slipping away from the elbow during a game, look for braces that utilize a premium lining material. Silicone is often used as a lining material, ensuring the brace grips firmly to the skin, without making it uncomfortable to wear. A reliable grip can also enhance the overall support provided by an elbow brace.
Main Types of Elbow Brace
There are three main types of elbow brace available. The most recognizable type is the so-called sleeve support. These elbow braces are lightweight and easy to wear. They slip onto the arm with minimal effort and are discreet enough that they can be worn underneath layers of clothing without showing through fabric. Another option to consider is the strap design. These elbow braces incorporate one or more rip-tape straps that provide enhanced levels of support of the elbow joint and tendons. However, they are a little trickier to fit than conventional sleeve supports.
Although generally more expensive than sleeve and strap styles, a dual-support tennis elbow brace will grant you superior levels of support when properly fitted. This type of strap includes a strap on either side of the elbow, allowing them to be fitted far more securely than other models. These braces are definitely worth looking into if you want to encourage healing of damaged tendons. However, while they promote better healing, they do limit your freedom of movement significantly. They are a good choice if you want to undertake less intensive training as you recover, but are not suitable if you want to enjoy the same freedom of movement you usually enjoy.
Other Way to Tackle Tennis Elbow
While an elbow brace provides you with an effective way of managing tennis elbow, there are other steps you can take to prevent the onset of it. One thing you might want to consider is swapping out your tennis racket. If your tennis racket is particularly firm with minimal levels of forgiveness, it might be contributing to tennis elbow. Try playing with a more flexible racket that will put less stress on your arm and elbow tendons. You should also think about changing the strings of your tennis racket. Avoid stiff strings made from things like polyester if your tennis elbow is particularly painful. Synthetic strings will place less stress on your arm and tendons, while looser tensioning can also alleviate the pressures that cause tennis elbow.
In Summary
If tennis elbow is keeping you from performing at your best, you definitely need to think about investing in an elbow brace. If your symptoms are minor or you simply wish to prevent against the onset of tennis elbow, you should consider a support sleeve as a tennis essential. Looking to recover from a more serious injury? A single or dual-strap support will help your tendons heal and get you back to playing your best in no time at all.
Copper Compression Recovery Elbow Sleeve – Guaranteed Highest Copper Content Elbow Brace for Tendonitis, Golfers or Tennis Elbow, Arthritis. Elbow Support Arm Sleeves Fit for Men and Women (Large)
The Copper Compression recovery sleeve is a great tool to support your stiff or sore joints for all sports.
This particular model of elbow brace comes in five different sizes: small, medium, large, X-large and XX-large meaning there is a brace for everyone! This type of elbow is slightly padded making it one of the most comfortable elbow braces out there. However the fit is still secure meaning you definitely will have relief whether using it for tennis elbow, golfers elbow, arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, osteoporosis or more.
The copper compression recovery elbow sleeve allows you to play with a decent range of motion, meaning that if you are using it for tennis, racquetball, badminton or golf you are still able to compete at a high level and continue to work and strengthen your muscles.
The fabric is very high quality and can is also washable which is a great bonus.
All in all, a great multi-purpose elbow brace with a model for all arm sizes.
Kunto Fitness Elbow Brace Compression Support Sleeve (Shipped From USA) for Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow, Golf Elbow Treatment – Reduce Joint Pain During Any Activity!
The Kunto fitness elbow brace is a stylish, modern and effective brace which helps relieve sore or swollen joints.
The brace is especially designed to apply even pressure across the whole joint making it great for tendinitis arthritis, inflammation, tennis elbow, golf elbow and general pain. With this elbow brace you also have a decent range of elbow and arm rotation meaning you would be able to wear this while playing most sports or working out.
The compression fabric is also quite breathable, tight-fitting and comfortable against your skin making it really good at avoiding the itchy feeling that comes with cheaper less good quality braces.
It also comes in 5 different size categories: X-small, small, medium, large and X-large meaning that there is an elbow brace for everyone.
There are also three very trendy designs available to choose from – a multi-colored one, a white/grey design and a beige styled brace. With this selection of different available models it comes as no surprise why this is such a popular product.
A sleek brace which offers great protection against sore and swollen joints.
Elbow Brace Compression Sleeve (1 Pair) – Instant Arm Support Elbow Sleeves for Tendonitis, Arthritis, Bursitis, Golfers & Tennis Elbow Brace, Treatment, Workouts, Weightlifting, Pain Relief, Recovery
A cost-effective, no-nonsense elbow brace that gets the job done.
Coming in 5 different sizes ranging from x-small to x-large there is definitely an elbow brace for all arm sizes. This particular brand comes as a pair meaning you are definitely getting your money’s worth with this model!
The special Power Support technology put into this particular brand of elbow brace means that you will have great circulation and secure support and protection helping you push through and achieve all your goals and simply get back to doing what you love! The brace is also very ergonomically designed meaning that it follows the general width of your arm and elbow really well – almost fitting like a glove. The compression sleeve is made from quality nylon, rubber and spandex making it very durable and firm.
The elbow brace has a special ComfortFlex design making it easy on the arm. The fabric is also breathable which is great for when you pick up a sweat.
An affordable elbow brace that feels great to use.
Simien Tennis Elbow Brace (2-Count), Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow Pain Relief with Compression Pad, Wrist Sweatband and E-Book
A more light-weight and targeted pair of elbow braces which are great value for money. They also come with an additional sweatband and e-book which explains how to use the product and help tackle elbow pain in general – what more could you ask for!
These elbow braces are very versatile with a one size fits all approach. They can be adjusted depending on how firm or relaxed you would like them to feel on your elbow or the nature of the injury.
The brace has a compression gel-like pad which not only feels very comfortable but ensures adequate pressure is applied to the area in which you are experiencing pain.
The brace is made from 65% neoprene and 35% nylon meaning that it is built to last. The strap is also very tough and durable meaning it definitely will last you a long time.
A great light-weight, versatile and targeted elbow brace that can be used in-tandem with or replace a compression sleeve.
POWERLIX Elbow Brace Compression Support (Pair) – Elbow Sleeve for Tendonitis, Tennis Elbow Brace and Golfers Elbow Treatment, Arthritis, Workouts, Weightlifting – Reduce Elbow Pain
A quality sleeve that helps support and protect your joints.
The PowerLix elbow brace applies stable pressure across the whole of the sleeve making it great for pain relief for a large variety of different conditions. Sizes range from small to extra-large meaning there is a range of size choices available for all people.
These supports are great for most sports that place pressure on elbows such as tennis, racquetball, badminton, golf, volleyball, weightlifting/power lifting and more – all while offering great range of motion meaning you will be able to bring your A game.
The sleeves are firm but breathable making them great for when you break a sweat. They are also not made from neoprene making them less itchy than some of their competitors!
The PowerLix elbow sleeve comes with a special, technical knitted anti-slip design meaning the sleeve stays in place no matter how much or hard you move your arms.
A quality, sleek-looking elbow brace that is definitely a great purchase.
Sparthos Elbow Compression Sleeves (Pair) – Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow Support – Elbow Brace for Men and Women – Made from Innovative Breathable Elastic Blend
Sparthos elbow compression provides firm pressure to help with pain and improved circulation to great effect.
These sleeves help provide targeting compression whilst maintaining good circulation helping you either recover from or prevent injuries in the future. The sleeve is firm and seamless almost fitting like a second skin – you barely notice it is there after a while.
The fabric is also relatively breathable meaning that in more serious or strenuous exercises you will be able to carry on with comfort.
The elbow brace comes in multiple colors – cobalt blue, desert beige, flamingo pink and midnight black meaning there is a wide variety of different options available to choose from.
The braces come in four different sizes, small, medium, large and extra large meaning there is a size for everyone.
The sleeves have a tight feel at first, but after a while they loosen up and accommodate your arm width.
A strong elbow compression sleeve that also takes circulation into account.
SB SOX Compression Elbow Brace (Pair) – Great Support That Stays in Place – for Tennis Elbow, Tendonitis, Arthritis, Golfers Elbow – Perfect for Weightlifting, Sports, Any Use
An affordable elbow compression brace that comes with many premium design features.
The brace fits smoothly and comfortably over the arm and comes in four different sizes meaning that anyone can use it. It is relatively light-weight meaning that after a while you will not even notice it is there! The fabric is breathable which is great for when you work up a sweat. The fabric is anti-odor and moisture-wicking making it great for those of us that like to get stuck into our sport/workout.
There is good blood circulation when using this product making it easy on the arm. The top and bottom cuff are both designed to be “non-slip” meaning that the elbow brace is definitely staying in place when in use.
A great elbow brace that comes with a nice price-tag making it a good investment for your elbows.
