# that band that NFLers wear just above their elbows

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-band-that-nflers-wear-just-above-their-elbows/289043
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 8, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-band-that-nflers-wear-just-above-their-elbows/289043 "2005-02-08T18:57:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### 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: [February 8, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-band-that-nflers-wear-just-above-their-elbows/289043/1 "2005-02-08T18:57:41Z")

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watching superbowl the other night, someone asked about the bands that some of the players wear just above their elbows. The bands are pretty narrow, so they don’t look like they could be supports. They look more like big shoelaces tied tightly.

What are they and why do the players wear them?

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### Author: ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-band-that-nflers-wear-just-above-their-elbows/289043/2 "2005-02-08T20:32:46Z")

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I am not an expert but I believe they are simply to prevent hyper-extension of the elbow. It’s not a tech-heavy procedure (any tightly wound band will do) so no one has marketed an official brand.

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### Author: ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [February 8, 2005, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-band-that-nflers-wear-just-above-their-elbows/289043/3 "2005-02-08T21:21:30Z")

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> [@FlightlessBird](#):
>
> I am not an expert but I believe they are simply to prevent hyper-extension of the elbow. It’s not a tech-heavy procedure (any tightly wound band will do) so no one has marketed an official brand.

Huh? I don’t see how a narrow strap worn above the elbow could prevent hyper-extension. I have wondered what those bands were for, myself, and found no explanation. My WAG is that the band provides support to help prevent the lower bicep from pulling away from the bone during extreme stress. Bicep tears are a occupational hazard for NFL linemen and blockers.