McDavid Elastic Elbow Support

Generally, I’ll compare the devices: Sleeve vs Band/Mfgr vs Mfgr. The existing Amazon reviews cover the individual pros & cons.For months, I’ve been dealing with moderate to severe medial epicondylitis or “golfers elbow”. Both elbows – more pronounced in right (I’m right handed). As my elbow pain began to become a very persistent problem, I decided to find a “fix”. I’m pleased to say my elbows are much improved … read on.The onset my elbow problems coincided with the failure of the pneumatic piston on my office chair which resulted in the chair sinking to the “bottom”/not staying at the desired height. Not realizing this would cause elbow problems, I procrastinated replacing the chair for a few months because, after all, it was still functional … just lower than I was accustomed to. Once the broken chair was identified as the problem, I immediately stopped using it and replaced it. Slowly, my elbows got better … but they were still injured and needed support to heal. Those of you that have epicondylitis from working at your desk, PLEASE try raising your chair up a few inches.Replacing the chair put me on the road to recovery. However, I soon discovered that healing my “injured” elbows was going to take some time. Riding my bike (road & mountain) inflamed my elbows and set me back in the healing process. Same thing with golf. Taking divots & grounding the club was very painful.Ongoing, my elbows would be especially painful in the morning. I had never experienced this pain before my office chair inflicted injury. I’ve researched & believe the pain is from sleeping with my arms tightly bent. Bending the elbow compresses the ulna nerve and flexes the injured tendon thus exacerbating the injury. I started sleeping with elbow sleeves which reminded me to keep my arms straight(er) throughout the night. Soon, my morning elbow pain began to subside.So what’s the fix? Surgery isn’t an option for me. Advil & ice help but aren’t the cure. So I went to the internet to read all abut epicondylitis (including Amazon product reviews) for a potential fix. Lots of great reviews here on Amazon for various brands of elbow bands and elbow sleeves. Not sure what to do, and growing impatient with the limitations imposed by my elbows (really – I can't pick that up because my elbow hurts??), I decided to purchase several of the better qualit/more popular straps and sleeves that I found here on Amazon.For each device, I assume that I purchased the correct size based on the manufacturers sizing recommendation. This of course, doesn’t mean I got the correct sizes. Here are my measurements:Forearm: 11.5”Elbow: 11.5”Bicep: 12.5”A common problem with nearly all of sleeves & straps I purchased, are lack of directions. None of the sleeves tell you which end goes toward the bicep and which side of the sleeve goes over the elbow (top vs bottom). Looking at the sleeves, some have discernable differences in the openings and the weave on top/bottom. Using logic, I assume that I got them on correctly … but not sure in all cases. Same with all the bands (except the EpiSport). Where are they placed in relation to the painful tendon? How much tension should they have? How do they help the healing process? How do these things help prevent injury? The EpiSport has excellent directions describing the mechanics of the band and where to place it. These directions were very helpful making informed assumptions on how to wear all the devices.Strap or sleeve? Generally, I found the straps to be much better for targeting the muscle compression and therefore protecting the tendon. I’ve found the sleeves to be supportive giving some muscle compression & comfort while supporting the injured & surrounding areas.Straps:McDavid 489 Elbow Strap “L”: A comfortable neoprene strap. I found it helpful but limited because it compress the entire arm with some added neoprene high points for focused compression. Because the compression around the arm is mostly uniform, I don’t think it is as effective as the other straps.EpiSport Epicondylitis Clasp “L”: Excellent instructions on how to wear the clasp and how it works. Because of the instructions, I understand how the band is designed to work: "The clasp applies dual compression on the long tendons of the forearm extensor and flexor muscles making them more parallel to allow healing to begin and reduce inflammation and pain.” I wore it on the golf driving range and for a few rounds of golf. It was comfortable and effective. No pain during or after. I believe, this clasp does the best job of targeting and compressing the muscle while reducing the compression elsewhere on the arm.Bauerfeind EpiPoint Elbow Strap One Size: Looking at their web site, I believe this strap is designed for tennis elbow and therefore any vague instructions are geared for compression on the outside of the arm. I reverse everything and use it for golfers elbow. Worked well for tree pruning project with heavy arborist pole saw. Pulling motion was too much for elbows. Not really believing this would help, I decided to try it. Figured it was worth a try since I couldn’t continue anyway. Also didn’t know for sure how to put it on since it didn’t come with any instructions other an elaborate multi language disclaimer booklet. I put it on and pain was gone! Couldn’t believe it. No pain afterward either. Later, Google helped me find this information on where to put the strap and the mechanics of how it works: "The strap should be placed around 2.5 cm distal to the lateral epicondyle”. Turns out, I had the strap too close to the elbow. I found the quote here: http://www.mikereinold.com/2009/07/are-tennis-elbow-straps-effective.htmlSleeves:Zensah Compression Elbow Sleeve “M”: Wore it on vigorous hour long mountain bike ride. Did the job. Supported my elbow. No pain during or after ride. The weave of the Zensah appears to be very specific for support & range of motion (this is the only way I could figure out how to wear it). The Zensah is a thinner lighter weave and therefore “cooler”. I think it generally helped with the constant vibrations.McDavid 512 Elastic Elbow Support “L”: Left arm on vigorous hour long mountain bike ride. Did the job. Supported my elbow. No pain during or after ride. Function was not quite as good as the Zensah. The McDavid, however, is a thicker heavier weave & and therefore “warmer”. If want the extra warmth, I will go with McDavid. I sleep with the McDavid sleeve on because it comfortably supports and helps me keep from bending my elbows tightly.Bauerfeind EpiTrain Elbow Support “Size 4: Comfortable neoprene and anatomical/form fitted neoprene sleeve with compression high points that don’t really compress much. It doesn’t come up onto bicep very high and tends to slip down more than others. Although it provides some support and limited compression, its best attribute is impact protection to the painful area. You will know what I’m talking about when you bump the painful tendon connection. I wear this when doing educational part of my Jiu Jitsu class. It won’t, however, stay on my elbow while sparring so I take it off to spar.

I ordered the medium size and it arrived one day before the expected delivery date, I love when that happens. I've had some type of tendonitis in my elbow that had been getting increasingly worse. I am a dart player and throw a lot of darts which I think caused some type of repetitive stress issue. For years, I've had a "click" in my elbow when I throw a dart, but it never became painful until a few months ago, I assumed it was something like "tennis elbow".Anyway, I thought a sleeve like the ones I see NBA players wearing might help, I've worn compression braces on my knee in the past and thought this might be a good idea. I read all the reviews of similar products here on Amazon and this one seemed like the best value for the price, I paid about 10 bucks, which is about the most I was willing to pay to try this out.I ordered a medium and it was not too tight, I have pretty average arm circumference, not too muscular nor too skinny. This sleeve is very comfortable and provides a very nice tight level of compression. My elbow feels very stable with this on. I have tried throwing darts with it on and it really minimizes the pain I was feeling at the end of full arm extension where my tendons would feel like they were being scraped against a rock inside my elbow. It also seems to give my arm a bit more elasticity, the compression helping my forward throwing motion, like my arm had a spring or an elastic assisting the throw.The material is not like spandex or similar materials and is supposed to breathe better than other sleeves. It's summer here right now and very hot anyways, so it's hard for me to judge this, but it doesn't seem to cause as much sweating or heat discomfort as I recall my old knee brace did.All in all, I'm very happy with this, my only concern being how long the product will last before it becomes loose or loses it's compression. I'll find out in time, I guess, but I would buy this product again. This is my first experience with the McDavid brand (they only seem to have futuro in stores around here), and I'm impressed, especially for the price.

I have had tennis and golf elbow for about 4 years now mainly in my left arm - until recently. After having tendonitis so bad in my left arm I began to compensate with my right arm more and now I have problems with the right arm (the reason for ordering another one). I bought my first Mcdavid sleeve 3 years ago and have literally worn it almost every day. Always during work and always during any physical activity, even cleaning windows or dusting things in my house. I have washed it countless times and it has never lost it's elastic strength. I wear it in the sun and it's still dark black. I love the fact that it stay put and doesn't move at all during the time wearing it. It's not too bulky and can easily be worn under shirts and jackets. Long sleeve shirts can be pulled over it unlike some braces with velcro straps. Any product that performs perfectly for several years without any sign of failure deserves a good review. Oh, I am 130 pounds, with a 10 inch elbow and I use the small sleeve. Some reviewers say that it's too tight, but for me tight is good. It does leave some pattern markings in your skin if it's worn for 8 hours at a time, but it's not so tight that it cuts any circulation off. I can't recommend this enough. Also, if tennis elbow is really acting up and I'm going to do something that I know will hurt my elbow (mowing, washing cars, weedwacking), I can strap a tennis elbow strap on top of this sleeve and I feel no pain at all until I remove everything after the activity. A note, I have literally tried half a dozen different braces, sleeves, thin copper junk and this beats all of them. I might order 2 or 3 just to make sure I have one for years and years to come... Oh, I am not affiliated with the company or seller and I didn't get a discount on anything, I just love it when a product works.

Excellent at the price point of 400 bucks. Made of elastic cloth material, with mild compression.

A good product. Almost like wearing a sweater tube around your elbows. For me the drawback was that I am a big person and the support fit sung (as it is supposed to). But when riding my superbike, it curled a little bit at the edges and this constrains blood circulation, and on the bike, one cannot his/her hands off the handlebar to adjust it.

This feels great and doesn't restrict movement at all. There is some compression and you can feel the extra support, but not bulky nor does it make you all sweaty. I bought 2 for weight lifting to support my golfer's elbows. The sizing could be misleading though. Just for a frame of reference...My upper forearms are almost 12" my elbow joint is about 10.75" in circumference and a large felt nice a secure (not tight but not loose). I could of gone for a medium if I wanted it to be tight. I tried an XL as well and there wasn't much difference, just a tad bit looser.

After six weeks of pain and discomfort in my arm following a fall, I finally got around to visiting my GP. She diagnosed "tennis elbow" I ordered this on the Saturday and it arrived on the Monday. I wore it Monday evening, for the first time since my fall I managed to sit down and relax without all the ouches and so both myself and my wife were happy!! Seriously though, I do not know how it works but it has relieved me of a great deal of discomfort. I ordered an extra large as my elbow measured 31cm and it seems the right size for me. Not too tight but seems to hold firm. The instructions on the inside packet has the following table.S = 20-24cm elbowM = 24-26cm elbowL = 26-30cm elbowXL = 30-35cm elbow

Excellent in all aspect🤗