Orthopedics-Online

Bandage for a tennis elbow

Synonyms

Epicondylitis brace
Epitrain
Epipoint
Tennis elbow cuff

introduction

A tennis elbow bandage is intended to prevent a tennis elbow or the relapse of a tennis elbow.
It should therefore be considered by people who have already suffered from a tennis elbow or by those who, through their job or hobby (for example, long work on the computer or regular tennis, but also volleyball, handball or Golf) have an increased risk of developing tennis elbow.
The bandage should ensure painless, unrestricted freedom of movement.

Read more on this topic at: Forearm bandage

For whom is a bandage useful?

During an acute situation with severe pain from the tennis elbow and existing inflammation, it can be useful to take a break first so that the tissue can recover to a certain extent.

The bandage is more suitable to be used for a prolonged course if the symptoms persist and restrict the activity and work of the person concerned. In addition, it may be appropriate for those affected with a history of tennis elbow to use the tennis arm bandage preventively as a prophylaxis to prevent it from developing again.

Appointment with a tennis elbow specialist?

I would be happy to advise you!

Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".

As a former performance-oriented tennis player, I specialized early on in the conservative treatment of chronic tennis elbow.
In the last few years I have successfully treated several thousand tennis arms.

You can find me in:

Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
Kaiserstrasse 14
60311 Frankfurt am Main

Directly to the online appointment arrangement
Unfortunately, it is currently only possible to make an appointment with private health insurers. I hope for your understanding!
Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert.

How long should I wear them a day?

The tennis elbow bandage and brace should be worn during painful activities. So at work or during sport, which usually triggers the symptoms. It just serves to be able to carry out the activities painlessly and to maintain the grip strength painlessly. It does not make sense to wear it beyond the active hours.

If you experience numbness, tingling or throbbing in the arm below the bandage while it is being worn, it may be that the bandage is too tight and obstructs the blood supply beyond the constriction. In this case, loosen the bandage and / or take a short break.

However, it does not make sense to wear it during rest periods. If the lacing is too tight, the blood supply to the muscles can be impeded. This can also hinder the positive repair processes that occur during the inflammation and overuse response and slow recovery. It therefore makes sense to discuss the use of a tennis arm bandage with an orthopedic doctor during an acute situation, i.e. when the inflammation and pain are very pronounced and, if necessary, to allow a rest phase first.

Should I also wear the bandage at night?

As already described in the rest phases, wearing the bandage or braces during sleep does not make sense.
During sleep, the body is actively involved in regeneration and healing injuries and inflammation. In addition, there is no strain on the forearm muscles during sleep, so that better blood supply and decompression by omitting the brace / bandage are advantageous.

How do I put them on correctly?

For the so-called tennis elbow and the golfer's elbow, a bandage is often used to alleviate the discomfort and promote blood circulation and healing. After being put on, the bandage encloses both part of the upper arm and part of the forearm. In addition, the elbow bandage has either one or two specially shaped pieces of padding, which can be made of silicone, among other things.

The aid is available in different sizes, depending on the thickness of the forearm. Only a suitable size enables a good fit, which guarantees an optimal position of the pressure pad.

As a rule, tennis elbow bandages can be worn on both sides, i.e. both on the left and on the right. The pressure pads, also called pads, must be positioned so that they come to rest on the tendons and muscles that are causing the discomfort. Since the pain is exactly at these points, the pressure pads can be positioned with good accuracy. Otherwise, you can use the rule of thumb that the pressure pad for the tennis elbow should be positioned two finger widths below the elbow on the outside of the forearm.
(In contrast to the brace, the bandage does not have to be tightened. The brace should fit tightly, but in no way impair the blood circulation.)

How does a tennis elbow bandage work?

A tennis elbow bandage can be purchased in most common medical and sports stores and applied by the person concerned. But you can also be prescribed by an orthopedic surgeon.
It works in such a way that it relieves the muscular apparatus and relieves pain (or, in the case of prophylactic use, prevents it from occurring in the first place) by exerting targeted, concentrated pressure on the tendons and muscles in the forearm.
Usually such a bandage is made of neoprene or some other sturdy material that can withstand high loads without any problems. The pressure intensity on the muscles can be varied individually using a Velcro fastener (if available).
Most tennis elbow bandages can be worn on both the right and left arm.

What is the difference to a brace?

The difference between tennis arm bandage and braces is that the bandage only has to be slipped over and exerts the pressure on the affected area via elastic properties. However, there are also bandages that also have an integrated strap, so that their function is very close to the brace. However, bandages without a strap have the disadvantage compared to the brace that the pressure cannot be varied individually.

It should be mentioned that the bandage is usually somewhat larger and includes part of the forearm as well as the upper arm.

Problems with the tennis elbow bandage

If you have this bandage you have to be careful, as there is a risk that a bandage that is too tightly applied cuts off the circulation and thereby the Healing process slows down.
During an acute tennis elbow, bandages are not always helpful in treatment and it must be shared with the treating person Orthopedists decide whether a bandage should be worn during the therapy phase or not.

Combination with other forms of therapy

Ideally, the bandage is not the only therapy after a tennis elbow, but is used in combination with a cold or heat treatment, physical therapy, Shock wave therapy and the Protection of the forearm used.