"I am a tile contractor and recently started having horrible pain in my elbows... A client recommended compression sleeves, but she was showing me lame ones that were skin colored... Then I found these! And they look cool! I am diligent about wearing them when I'm doing stuff I know will hurt me again."
"After a few years with just the knee sleeves, I added the Elbow Sleeves. That sense of mind the gel pad provides is priceless. I keep coming back to Old Bones because they wash easy and retain their compression."
"Near 60 now so very little skating, but I still play music, and more importantly, I'm a plumber that needs to keep working... These arm sleeves allow much better flexibility. Gotta keep playing and working."
Elbow Support for Gripping, Lifting and Slams
Elbows wear out two ways. One is repetition: gripping a tile saw or a wrench, swinging a racket or a hammer, pressing and pulling in the gym, until the outside or inside of the elbow aches. Those are the spots people call tennis elbow and golfer's elbow. The other is impact: slams on concrete and ramps that land right on the point of the elbow. We make two sleeves for both.
How to Choose
For the joint itself, the elbow sleeve. Our elbow sleeve is knitted compression with a silicone gel ring that sits around the elbow, so it hugs the joint without limiting how far you can bend or straighten it. Lifters wear it for pressing and pulling, tradespeople through the shift, and skaters and BMX riders for sessions.
For the whole arm, the arm sleeve. The Compression Arm Sleeve runs from the wrist to the upper arm, for forearm soreness that travels with the elbow and long days of repetitive work. More options are on our forearm compression sleeves page.
Afterward, ice it. The Ice Sleeve is built for the knee, but it fits most elbows too, for 15 to 20 minutes of cold, or heat if you warm it.
By Condition
Soreness on the outside of the elbow: see compression sleeves for tennis elbow. On the inside: golfer's elbow braces. For tendons that flare with use, see elbow braces for tendonitis, and if you've been told it's cubital tunnel, elbow braces for cubital tunnel. Everything is together on our elbow braces page.
Sizing
For the elbow sleeve, find your elbow joint, go up 3 inches and measure around your arm. 12 inches or less is M, 12 to 14 inches is L, and 14 inches or more is XL. For a tighter fit, size down; for a looser one, size up. The arm sleeve's chart lists four measurements from the wrist to the upper arm, in sizes S to 2XL, so match yours to the chart on its product page.
When to See a Provider
Get it checked if a fall leaves you unable to fully bend or straighten the elbow, a lump swells up fast on the point of the elbow, numbness or tingling in your fingers keeps coming back, or the pain hasn't eased after a few weeks of taking it easy.
Working down the arm? See our wrist sleeves and wraps, or start at shop by body part.
FAQs
Elbow sleeve or arm sleeve: which should I get?
Get the Compression Elbow Sleeve if the soreness is at the elbow itself: it's shorter, with a gel ring around the joint. Get the Compression Arm Sleeve if it runs down into the forearm or you want coverage from the wrist to the upper arm for long days of repetitive work.
Can I wear the elbow sleeve for tennis elbow or golfer's elbow?
Yes. Tennis elbow sits on the outside of the elbow and golfer's elbow on the inside, and the sleeve wraps both sides. Many people wear it while they play, lift or work. If the pain is sharp or isn't settling down, have a provider take a look.
Do you make a rigid elbow brace?
No. Our elbow support is the Compression Elbow Sleeve: knitted compression with a gel ring, slim enough to move in. If a provider wants your elbow held still after an injury, follow that first.
How do I measure for the elbow sleeve?
Measure around your arm 3 inches above the elbow joint. M is 12 inches or less, L is 12 to 14 and XL is 14 or more. Size down for a tighter fit or up for a looser one.
Can I ice my elbow?
Yes. The Ice Sleeve is built for knees but fits most elbows. Freeze it for at least 2 hours, slide it on for 15 to 20 minutes, and give your skin a break before the next round.