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Have you ever noticed while watching your favorite sport on TV, some of the athletes wear arm sleeves? 
Turns out that these “sleeves” are a medical garment called stockinette.
Stockinette is a compression garment that can be used on the arm and leg for multiple medical reasons. Orthopedic stockinette can be used under orthotic devices such as casts or over dressings to help prevent hypertrophic scarring and contracture. One well known athlete that started using stockinette is Allen Iverson. This NBA player started wearing stockinette way back in 2001, although he was not wearing it as a fashion statement as some athletes do today. Iverson wore stockinette because his right elbow developed bursitis. Bursitis is a painful condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints. These bursae started swelling up in Iverson’s right arm causing pain. In turn he started to wear the stockinette sleeve to help him continue to play throughout his NBA career.
Used by most athletes now as a fashion statement, stockinette sleeves can now be seen on a lot of different athletes. Many athletes get personalized stockinette to match their team’s jersey. Allen Iverson unintentionally started a trendy thing with stockinette and now it’s the norm. If you have bursitis, talk to your doctor before using stockinette.
For more information on how stockinette became a fashion statement, click here.
Article written by William Graves.