Research review of the ArmLock brace: A Therapeutic Stretching Tool for the Treatment of Chronic Tennis Elbow

Introduction The intent of this article is to review the research on a novel product, the ArmLock brace, as well to elucidate the possible rationales for how a sustained stretch, as provided by the ArmLock brace, may help treat this challenging condition.

How trigger points might form:

In accordance with Laplace’s law, increasing intramuscular pressures disproportionately compress arterioles and the capillary network, thereby promoting tissue hypoxia during these sustained static contractions.

Statically holding fingers over a keyboard or a mouse, holding tools with the fingertips, grabbing and holding onto larger items with the fingers extended; all activities that involve a static contraction with the dorsal forearm musculature at the inner range. At this inner range, there is maximum overlap actin and myosin molecules and maximum energy requirements. The current research on the ArmLock supports that a low load, prolonged stretch, may be an effective method of releasing these affected tissues associated with tennis elbow.

Why a low-load prolonged stretch?

Individuals with tennis elbow often exhibit reduced extensibility in their wrist extensor musculature.

Neuro-Modulatory perspective:

These findings suggest that stretching may alleviate pain by improving range of motion and reducing muscle stiffness such stretching may contribute to central downregulation of pain sensitivity, allowing the nervous system to “relearn” that tension is not inherently threatening.

From a sensory modulation standpoint, chronic stretching appears to alter the perception of discomfort rather than induce substantial morphological changes in muscle tissue. Because tennis elbow pain is often triggered by sudden increases in tension, as occurs during active contraction of the dorsal forearm muscles, the treatment of providing a gentle, sustained tensile load—delivered for 30 minutes daily through a passive stretching device—can gradually desensitize the tissues to both passive stretch and active contraction.

Tension as the stimulus to heal:

In contrast, patients who rely solely on rest or protective splinting may fail to provide the necessary mechanical stimulus required for tendon remodeling and recovery.

Anatomical considerations:

Their conclusion was that the finger extensors may play a greater role in tennis elbow than previously appreciated. In managing tennis elbow, the importance of targeting the finger extensors becomes unmistakable.