What's With the Black Arm Bands?

[Rohirrim]

I've noticed these things in every college game I watched this weekend and in many of the NFL preseason games. It appears that WRs and other ball carriers are wearing these little bands of rubber, or whatever, tightly wrapped around their arms right above their elbows. What are these things for? Looks to me like they would cut off your circulation. I could see some kind of cloth to keep sweat off of your lower arms and hands, but tourniquets? What's up with that?

[WoodMan]

They are the off spring of those nose strips which obviously allowed you to take deeper breaths and oxygenate your blood for much better performance. Or were they to look cool? Ha! I can't remember.

[ICON]

http://sp1.mm-a7.yimg.com/image/3851001364:wiggle:

[Rohirrim]

Maybe that's why they wear the gloves? To hide the fact that their fingers are blue. ;D

[Sodak]

I have often wondered the same thing. Those things are on everybody, but I can't think of a single use for them. They look like little sporty garter belts just above the elbow.

[Jason in LA]

:worthless

Well, the photo of the kid in the pool is funny, but doesn't really help us out. ;D

[s0phr0syne]

Prevent "rug burn" type injuries with all the sliding around on the ground?

[listopencil]

It's so their moms can pick them out on TV when they can't see the jersey number or name. "Hey, Ma. I'm the one with the black band on the left arm. I'll wave!"

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I believe this is what Ro is asking about. (Swiped from ICON's Tenn/Cal thread)

[shakenbake]

Colt wears white ones.


http://images.usatoday.com/sports/_photos/2006/09/07/mccoy.jpg

[shakenbake]

Tennis Elbow ?

[Merlin]

Tendon support?

[Rohirrim]

I believe this is what Ro is asking about. (Swiped from ICON's Tenn/Cal thread)

That's them. See? Nobody knows what the hell they're for. It wasn't just me. :approve:

[orinjkrush]

they're there so that everyone who doesn't know what they're there for will ask "what are they there for"? it's very cultish.

[WoodMan]

They can't help you catch a football any better than stickum could. Abner Haynes could intercept a pass with one finger.;D

[El Guapo]

they look cool, duh.

[youcandoit1687]

They are Nike DriFit Bicep Bands, I couldn't find 'em online but they come in all sorts of colors and are mostly a finesse thing to go with your uniform. They do soak up a lot of sweat by the end of games though.

As for the rugburn comment, those are the large strips of what look like band aid on the back of the elbow with super sticky stick-em on em.

Any other questions?

[Sir_Robin]

This may shed a little light on the topic:

http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=28832

[Archie]

This may shed a little light on the topic:

http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=28832

If this sheds light on the subject then I must be certifiably blind8')

[Kaylore]

This may shed a little light on the topic:

http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=28832

That actually just confused me more.

[Sodak]

I still don't get it. If they are sweatbands, then why the hell would you want them above your elbow, and below the bicep? Do people have a problem with sweat in this area?

I call BS on this one. It's gotta be some kind of fashion statement.

[Conklin]

AFAIK those narrow straps are to prevent tendinopathy. By taking some of the load off the muscles and tendons near their attachment points they reduce the likelihood of tearing, particularly of the triceps tendon when falling on the hands. Physical therapists give these to the players to prevent lateral and medial epicondylitis and outright rupture injury and keep them in the game with less pain. You can get them fitted for the patellar tendon also.
posted by chudder (http://www.metafilter.com/user/48672) at 1:57 AM (http://ask.metafilter.com/55840/What-are-the-elbowbicep-straps-so-many-NFL-players-are-sporting-this-season#840641) on January 27

from:
http://ask.metafilter.com/55840/What-are-the-elbowbicep-straps-so-many-NFL-players-are-sporting-this-season