A basketball sleeve is a special retainer that stretches tightly to the arm from the wrist and reaches almost to the shoulder. Its main function is to protect muscles, tendons and ligaments from injuries, sprains and bumps. It is worn by athletes who play not only basketball, but also volleyball players, hand-ball players. Their main tool in matches is the hands, the muscles of which experience extraordinary tension during the game, not to mention the strong blows of the ball into the hand.
The use of a basketball sleeve will help to avoid microtrauma. It not only keeps muscles and ligaments in good shape, but also maintains a constant temperature in this area. The famous basketball player Allen Iverson put on such a product for the first time . Since then, many athletes in the world have been using such a fixator in games and training.
In the article we will consider in more detail the types of sleeves, from what materials they are made, how they need to be selected and processed.
Product Types
Basketball sleeves can be qualified according to the level of protection of ligaments and muscles from damage.
- Level 1 means protecting the player’s throwing hand from sprains, microtrauma during training. This type of sleeve can perform a supporting function for the hand with minor injuries or not yet fully restored after sprain.
- Level 2 has enhanced protection for the elbow joint and better maintains the internal temperature of the body. It is made of denser matter and has a correspondingly greater compressive effect on this muscle group and ligament. It is designed for a more serious limb injury. With this fixation, pain does not have such an effect on the nervous system, the player can participate in the match even after moderate injuries.
- Level 3 provides the most maximum protection for the throwing hand. Players wear such a basketball sleeve after serious injuries and sprains. The sleeve has a special structure for strong elbow support. In this product, the player will be able to calmly finish the match to the end and will not experience pain even with unstable injuries. It is made of nylon material that warms the body and reduces pain.
Nike Basketball Sleeve
The Nike brand produces several types of such products. There are simple restraining and warming sleeves made of nylon fabric. This is Nike Pro. Its main advantage is support and a tight fit. The fabric has a moisture-absorbing structure. All seams are made invisible and flat, they do not rub the surface of the skin even during intense physical effort. The fabric consists of two types of threads: nylon - 95% - and spandex - 5%. According to the instructions, the sleeve can be machine washed.
The next model of the basketball sleeve is the Nike Pro Combat Hyperstrong Elite Arm Sleeve. This is a variant of the latch with elbow reinforced protection. It is made from special De-Tech foam, which significantly reduces impact strength. The fabric has a mesh structure that allows the skin to breathe and releases excess moisture. The skin remains dry even after intense physical exertion. The fabric is stretch, stretches well.
How to choose the size?
In order not to make a mistake and not to get too long a product, you need to know your size. Oddly enough, but when taking a measurement, it is not the arm length that is measured, but the muscle volume. You need to take a flexible centimeter and measure the girth of the biceps. This is done only in a relaxed state.
| Bicep volume | Sleeve size |
| 20 - 25 cm | S |
| 25 - 30 cm | M |
| 30 - 35 cm | L |
Compression properties
Now compression basketball hoses are very popular among players. During a huge load during matches and training, lactic acid accumulates in the muscles. The main property of this type of clamps is the slowdown of this process. They compress the muscles from the wrist right up to the shoulder, although the pressure is light, but even it helps the blood circulate more actively in this part of the arm and improves its oxygen supply.
With such a sleeve, the player remains able to work longer and gets tired less. They are available in two versions - simple and with protection of the elbow joint, having a HexPad insert. A bruise of the elbow is a very painful condition, because a lot of nerve endings are concentrated in this place.
When buying a sleeve, first think over the look of the product, take measurements to choose the right size. Then, while playing basketball, get the most out of the fixative.