Anatomy of Tennis and Golfer's Elbow
Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow is an overuse injury of the elbow, which is also known as lateral and medial epicondylitis. It is very common to see this type of injury in individuals who play any sports that involve throwing or repetitive movements of the upper limbs.
This condition is caused by inflammation of the tendons on either the outside (lateral) or the inside (medial) portion of the elbow. The associated pain is due to overuse, where tendons are repeatedly strained until tiny tears form.
A well-fitting elbow brace can significantly improve your quality of life. It helps reduce pain and discomfort by relieving the joint and strained tendons. Wearing a Bauerfeind elbow brace can minimise the chances of injury by providing enhanced stability and healthy proprioception. With the use of a brace, you can transition back into your active lifestyle faster.
Read More: Tennis Elbow Causes, Symptoms and Treatments and Golfer’s Elbow Causes, Symptoms and Therapy.
What’s the Right Brace?
There are a wide variety of braces and straps to choose from. A well-fitting brace will make a significant difference in reducing pain and discomfort. For overall compression and support to the whole elbow joint, a compression brace such as an EpiTrain might be more suitable. If you are looking to only place pressure on a specific point, an elbow strap such as an EpiPoint will cater for your needs.
Fitting the brace
At Bauerfeind, we create our braces to be shaped to your body's natural anatomy. We ensure that you've got the perfect fit to help every part of your elbow. Our extensive sizing system was developed based on combined studies and measurements worldwide.
We recommend you choose the larger size for gentler compression or the smaller size for firmer compression. When between sizes, the average person prefers the smaller size for a more secure fit unless you are sensitive to compression. If you are unsure about the right size for you, contact our experts here.
How to wear a compression elbow brace
A compression brace such as the EpiTrain will stabilise the muscles and increase blood flow, promoting faster healing. The pressure applied to the elbow should effectively reduce the inflammation of the tendons and promote faster healing.
How to wear a compression brace such as EpiTrain:
- For easy donning, fold the top part of the support outward so that the cutouts for the internal massage pads become visible.
- Grab the support near the pad pocket and pull over the elbow, making sure that the majority of the blue sits on your forearm.
- Make sure that the outer bony protrusions (epicondyles) are positioned in the cut-out of the pad on both the inside and outside parts of the elbow.
- Fold the upper edge of the support back into the original position.
How to wear an Elbow Strap
Alternatively, an elbow strap such as the EpiPoint can create a different attachment zone for the tendon. When the muscle contracts, the brace disperses the stress throughout the muscle rather than just the injured tendon, thus reducing pain and discomfort.
How to wear an elbow strap such as EpiPoint:
- Undo the band and place the strap on the forearm, ensuring the five-point pad rests directly on the muscle belly, i.e. in lateral position (outside) in case of tennis elbow or in medial position (inside) in case of golfer’s elbow. The ridged part of the strap should always face outwards.
- To fasten the strap, rest the forearm on a firm surface such as a table, and tighten the Velcro fastening.
How often to wear the brace?
We recommend wearing the brace throughout the day, especially when playing sports or repeatedly using your elbow. Once you feel more comfortable, you may only require wearing the brace when you are active. We do not suggest wearing a compression brace while sleeping, as it may cause some circulatory issues.
How long to wear the brace?
The length of time you would wear the elbow brace depends on the severity of the injury. A doctor or specialist will be able to give you better insight into your individual injury. Although, an injured tendon in the elbow usually takes about 1-3 weeks until it starts to feel better. Usually, by the 3-5 weeks mark, the injury should have surpassed.
