The compression sleeves are increasingly present in the world of sport. Very visible in NBA, where players like LeBron James ou Russell Westbrook wear them regularly, they are also found among marathon runners, a football and even in the racket sports like tennis and padel. But is their usefulness only aesthetic?

Protection and injury prevention

In racquet sports, many athletes are now adopting the compression sleeve. Carlos Alcaraz, for example, wore a sleeve on the right arm during the last Roland Garros to protect his forearm. He explained during the madrid tournament :

“My physio tells me to put the sleeve on and I do it. He hasn’t explained exactly how it helps me, but I trust him completely and if he tells me to put it on, I obey.”

Au paddle, players like mike yanguas et Fernando Belasteguín have also adopted this protection. The aim is to reduce muscle tension and to avoid injuries due to repeated strikes.

A controversial physiological impact

Compression sleeves are designed to stimulate blood circulation, improve muscle oxygenation and so delay fatigue. However, no scientific study has formally proven their effectiveness. It remains difficult to recreate in the laboratory the real conditions of a match of tennis or padel to assess their exact impact on performance.

A style accessory and a marketing tool ?

In the era of Social Media, the image of athletes is constantly scrutinized. Their style on the field becomes a means of expression and a commercial lever for their sponsors. The compression sleeve can thus be a marketing accessory additional, allowing equipment manufacturers to gain visibility.

From a mental point of view, some players also believe that this accessory brings them confidence and comfort, by attenuating muscle vibrations at the moment of impact with the ball.

So, is this a real asset or just a fad?

While its medical effectiveness remains debated, the compression sleeve seems to have a beneficial placebo effect for some players. Between style, prevention and marketing, it has now established itself as a modern sports accessory.

Nicolas Fillaudeau

A big sports enthusiast and former tennis player, I discovered padel a few years ago without really focusing on it. Then I became addicted to this sport by practicing it and watching the premier padel matches. Looking forward to sharing the 2025 news with you!

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