Review on 💪 FUTURO Small Elbow Support with Pressure Pads, Perfect for Daily Activities, Breathable Design by Justin Hines

This Futuro brace was my second attempt at finding something to relieve the pain and weakness caused by tendonitis in my right elbow . This condition simply arose after the relatively normal activities of an elderly woman and not as a result of any particular event. My hands are disabled - the left is worse than the right - and the thumb of the left hand is almost useless. First I bought a Yasco neoprene strap and a velcro strap, which was completely useless for me. Using both hands and before attempting to put it on, I found the strong velcro straps almost impossible to undo. I was afraid that if I could put it on, I wouldn't be able to take it off. Even if my left arm wasn't so disabled, it would be a difficult task. Also, the neoprene part has been separated from the Velcro; The two were constantly spinning and difficult to position properly. It was a real nightmare. The Yasco strap is probably a good product; it just didn't suit my needs. This Futuro product (made in China for 3M) proved to be the solution. I didn't measure my elbow; but I guessed correctly that the small size (9 - 10 inches at the elbow) would be for me. [Medium 10-11 inches and Large 11-12 inches.] The fabric consists of cotton, rubber, nylon, polyester, spandex and silicone. The cotton-lined sleeve offers more support over a larger area than just an elastic band. This product is very well made: the stitching is pretty good, the edges are well finished. The pressure pads (filled with silicone) are permanently attached to the cuff. Judging by what the doctor told me, they are located correctly. However, I would have liked them to be bigger. I think another piece of padding, either tight or loose, that fits inside the outside of the elbow joint might provide additional relief. There is a lot of rubber in the hard sleeve, which I think is necessary for compression. I am allergic to rubber (rashes and hives) and my skin gets very irritated by nylon, polyester and spandex; elastic cotton lining does not provide adequate protection. But wearing the sleeve over a thin knit silk long sleeve turtleneck (which I usually wear anyway) reduced these problems to an acceptable level. The outer part at the elbow differs from most sleeves. It seems to have less compression; this seems to facilitate elbow flexion. But after a few hours, the outer part of the elbow still hurts a little. My second major complaint (first because of the rubber) is the volume of the cuff on the inside of the elbow where it flexes. Besides the increased irritation to my skin, the sleeve causes fairly deep creases almost immediately. This volume restricts movement and causes some discomfort. I don't know if there is a solution; but maybe it would be better to make that area thinner or with a different weave. An attached high-elastic band provides additional compression and support over the silicone pads. Luckily, the velcro works as it should, but isn't so big that it's difficult to untie with a weak left hand. Velcro "press" the surface of the strap; I don't know if this will cause problems in the future. I'm glad this product is not black. Aesthetics aside, most black inks irritate my skin. I haven't washed this product yet, but it doesn't seem too difficult. The instructions say to hand wash with a mild soap in warm water, rinse well and air dry. Do not machine wash, tumble dry, dry clean, or use bleach or fabric softener. I only wear it when I'm awake and take it off several times a day to allow my skin to breathe; but that's a personal choice and not a necessity, I believe it can be worn while sleeping. Even when I'm not very active (reading or relaxing) it relieves my pain a lot. When I'm more active (rotating my arm, reaching for or picking up objects) it reduces the pain and seems to give me a little extra strength. I've only had this Futuro support for a few days and I don't know how long these products are supposed to last; but I can only recommend it. I haven't seen a better design and my little criticism probably applies to any such item. The quality is excellent. Based on this purchase I would probably choose other Futuro products over another brand.