Injuries have become all too common in bowling and many other sports for that matter as of late.  One injury in particular is on the rise and has caught my attention is elbow injuries.  It only makes sense though that this would be common, especially with the amount of torque some of us try to put on the ball when they throw it.  Elbow Injuries are unfortunate and can put you out of the season thus leaving your team short-handed and robbing yourself from enjoying the long fall season which is now upon us.  What can you do to avoid this?  Well, unfortunately most would just say put some ice on it and suck it up.  I do not share this thought process and dare to think outside of the box.  My suggestion is an Elbow Brace.  With what knowledge I have and what research I have done, it seems to be the most realistic and logical answer for more than one reason too.  Wearing an elbow brace can not only reduce the pain you have, but prevent an injury from ever occurring in the first place!  I have been bowling since I was 4 years old and just due to my stubbornness, I have never worn one until now and have been lucky enough to avoid serious elbow injuries.  But, why take a chance?  I plan on wearing one from this day forward and here is why.

1. It reduces the pain.  Call me crazy, but I am going to assume that most people in the world do not enjoy being in pain.  Maybe last night, lane five was over-oiled and no matter how hard you tried to torque that ball it still went straight as a board barely making it to the pocket or not even getting that far.  But, did you move your stance a few boards to adjust?  Of course not!!!!  You decided it would be a much better idea to continue twisting your arm as hard as you can to make the ball go where you wanted it and next thing you know you would rather swim with a pool filled with hungry sharks than attempt to move your elbow.  I bet you wished you would have moved your stance now though right?  It happens to the best of us, don't worry.  Here is the good news!  An elbow brace can help reduce and maybe even eliminate the pain you may be experiencing.  What an elbow brace does when you put it on is reduce inflammation, muscle tension, shock and vibration.  Bowling uses quite a bit of arm as well as shoulder strength, so this type of protection is needed.  Personally, the elbow brace I chose is called the Serola Gel Arc Elbow Brace.  Out of all the sites I looked at, they seemed to be the most informational and I am very happy with my purchase from them. Check it out if you wish or research for yourselves, either way, I am just trying to steer you in the correct direction which brings me to my next point.

2. It can prevent the injury from ever happening in the first place.  Now of course I am not trying to convince you that you will be immune to injury just because you are wearing a brace, but the chances of it occurring go down by quite a bit.  Who wants to risk being injured?  Nobody, that's who!  So why not do the math and see that wearing a brace equals limited risk of injuring your elbow.  You might think that it is uncomfortable to wear, but in my opinion it's just like everything else and you get used to in being on.  In fact, it will probably get to the point where it feels odd not to have it on.  Plus it helps to buy a brace made from a soft and flexible material like the one I purchased from Serola which is made from a sponge like cloth material.

3. Last, but not least, elbow braces are affordable.  If you are looking for a brace and see one that costs $100.00, click the back button as fast as you can and get away from that website unless they say their products are made from gold.  A good elbow brace should cost about $20-$30.  I know all of us are not made of money, but I look at it as spending a few bucks on preventing an injury that may cost me hundreds in expensive doctor bills.

In all, I hope this offered some help for those of you that wanted an opinion on this subject.  I am not a doctor and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night but I thought that I could still do some good for somebody out there.  Nobody wants their season cut short in any sport and I know I will be enjoying mine pain free.

I am happy to announce a new marketing program:

“Shoot a Video of Serola Belt & Win an iPad!”

Upload your video to YouTube!

Details:

• The video has to be 30 – 90 seconds long and must show how it helped you relieve pain. Or simply show us how you put it on.
• Upload the video to YouTube. The title & description of the video must include the words “Serola Sacroiliac Belt.”
• Send your video link to bilguun@serola.net before 12/10/2010.
• The program will run from 10/5 – 12/10/2010. We will notify the winner of the 16GB, Wi-Fi, iPad ($500 value) on 12/12/2010.
• Please also read: The Rules and Conditions

I look forward to seeing all your fan videos!

Thanks,

Bilguun

The Arthritis Foundation defines tennis elbow as painful inflammation of the tendon at the outer border of the elbow resulting from overuse of lower arm muscles (as in twisting of the hand). Wearing an elbow brace that is properly designed ensures quicker healing while undergoing healing treatment. There are three benefits to wearing an elbow brace.

1. Elbow Braces Are Less Expensive Alternatives to Doctor’s Treatment. Visiting a doctors’ office can be expensive. You pay for the visit(s), check-ups, diagnosis, and any extra prescription drugs/ medications that they tell you to buy which can add up to hundreds of dollars. Some visits can be a one-day-only-visit while some can be a 13-week-long-visits. Not everyone can afford to go see a doctor these days, and that is why elbow braces become one of the do-it-yourself methods that could save you money.

2. It Relieves Pain caused by Tight Muscle Tension. Another benefit that you can receive from wearing the support brace is the relief. When your muscles aren't at stress, they can get as much rest that they need. Having your elbow free from any unwanted movement will allow it to rest as well.

3. Elbow Braces Prevent Chronic Injury. Most people treat their pain after injury, while others prevent if before it actually happens. If you are heavily involved in actions with repetitive overload on your forearm muscles wearing an elbow brace can be the best preventative measure.

In conclusion, elbow braces aren't just  worn for relief and protection. It also provides warmth on the injured forearm and it promotes healing. Elbow braces come in various types and may come from different lines of manufacturers. It is advised that you choose an elbow brace that is designed properly with light weight and breathable material. You have to monitor the effectiveness of the brace and your injury's stage of healing so you can change it if necessary. So there's no more reason for you to refuse using tennis elbow braces!

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The main difference between the original belt and new belt is the material. The original belt uses COTTON webbing as interior, and the new belt uses OPEN CELL URETHANE as interior (picture shown below).  The Original belt has more weight, while the new belt has less weight. Closures are the same on both, and we use Velcro. Most ofour customers prefer the new belt.

New Serola Belt

Original Serola Belt

We still manufacture the original belt due to increased market demand. Please contact us at 815-636-2780 if you have any questions about the Serola Sacroiliac Belt types.