# Sore Arm - Do those arm straps help? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946 "2013-08-23T07:29:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/1 "2013-08-23T07:29:20Z")
I’ve been getting some soreness in my arm, just below the elbow - probably some sort of repetitive stress thing, from keyboarding and driving. I’ve sometimes seen cashiers wearing a strap around the arm below the elbow. Has anyone worn one? Are they effective? What are they supposed to do? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/2 "2013-08-23T08:30:23Z")
Compression bandages compress and feel good for certain type of injuries. Another type of bandage may restrict movement. depends on the type and severity of injury. Places like Walgreens and CVS and even Academy Sports sell a variety at low cost. Slings are available, too. I am not a doctor. You might need to consult one ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/3 "2013-08-23T08:48:21Z")
It did for me. Doctor diagnosed me with “tennis elbow” (but Doc, I don’t play tennis). He recommended one if those bands and it worked as advertised. It took about two weeks of wearing it before the pain finally went away. While wearing the band the pain and discomfort was relieved about 95%. It seemed the tighter I adjusted the band the more effective it worked. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/4 "2013-08-23T10:56:15Z")
Worked for me. I got a repetitive stress injury from lifting my laptop bag from the passenger seat with my right hand when I was getting out of the car. The elbow band really helped. (So did getting a different kind of laptop bag.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/5 "2013-08-23T13:42:01Z")
But how do they work? I assume the pain is caused by inflammation of the muscles and tendons - why does putting pressure on them reduce the inflammation? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/6 "2013-08-23T14:02:19Z")
If you’re like me, the discomfort you’re feeling is originating in your wrist, and you might be better off trying a [wrist stabilizer](http://www.cvs.com/shop/product-detail/Futuro-Deluxe-Wrist-Stabilizer-Right-Hand-Small-Medium?skuId=138206) (i.e., a soft cast). ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/7 "2013-08-23T14:02:58Z")
Moved to IMHO. **samclem** , moderator ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/8 "2013-08-23T14:55:04Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > But how do they work? I assume the pain is caused by inflammation of the muscles and tendons - why does putting pressure on them reduce the inflammation? My understanding, and I’m no doctor, is that the tendon is irritated and inflamed. The strap holds the muscle that attaches to that tendon somewhat immobile, thus, no more irritation on the tendon. It worked for me. I strained the tendon playing sports, then I was coming home and playing long hours of games involving mouse clicking, plus work - more mouse clicking - that kept slightly irritating the same tendon. The strap helped reduce the pull on that tendon while I was using the mouse so the problem had a chance to resolve itself. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/9 "2013-08-23T14:59:16Z")
I can echo what others upthread have said. I also had ‘tennis elbow’ and utilized a strap to relieve pain. It worked very well. I also noticed that tighter was better. I wasn’t pain-free for months, however. I had physiotherapy and ‘needling’ (similiar to acupuncture, but more aggressive) to help get rid of it. Strengthening your forearms and gaining flexibility in your shoulder was recommended to prevent future occurrances. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/10 "2013-08-23T17:27:52Z")
My arm is sore… sore arm… sore arm… sarm! SARM! _\_ ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/11 "2013-08-24T01:51:05Z")
I use one and it helps. I also put my elbow in a bowl of ice water. I sometimes will wear a sock top (cut off the foot) on my elbow while I am doing yard work and such. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/12 "2013-08-24T02:22:20Z")
It may help if you have the right injury. I hurt my arm last year. I started wearing a band like that, until it got worse and I had to do Physical Therapy. One of the first things my therapist did was have my ditch the band. She said it was compressing the radial tunnel and was making things worse. ---
**Author:** ![BobArrgh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobarrgh/32/2881_2.png) [@BobArrgh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobArrgh)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/13 "2013-08-25T14:16:38Z")
The compression strap I use has a slightly-more-rigid piece that comes over the top. I believe that is supposed to go right over the tendon (a few inches below the elbow) and to provide a rigid point for the tendon to work against. Think of it as similar to a capo for a guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sore-arm-do-those-arm-straps-help/666946/14 "2013-08-25T14:48:03Z")
The guitar analogy is about right - the strap puts pressure on the tendon at a point before the injured area. That takes tension off the injured area so it can heal. I have a repetitive-stress “tennis elbow” thing happening now and my doctor initially told me to try one of those straps (along with heat and ibuprofen). Unfortunately, when it’s tight enough to make a difference at the elbow, my fingers go numb. Doc said to stop wearing it except when I’m doing anything that’s using the tendon - in my case, capping and tightening vials at work. Definitely see a doctor about it, though, because “sore arm” can be caused by a whole bunch of different types of injury, and what helps one may hurt another.