Schwartz: Arm Sleeves Have Become Very Popular Among Athletes

By Peter Schwartz
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Shortly after the Mets acquired Yoenis Cespedes from the Tigers at the trading deadline, my 9-year-old son, Bradley, not only realized how important the newest Met was going to be for the team, but he also noticed an unfamiliar part of his equipment.

"What is that thing on his arm?" he asked.

I had noticed it before but never really thought about it, but I honestly didn't know what it was. Since my son plays youth sports and he likes to be up to date on accessories, I figured I would try to get him an answer.

As it turns out, Cespedes wears an arm sleeve which is a compression apparel product seen in many different sports, including football, baseball, and basketball. It's a fad that started when former basketball star Allen Iverson wore one for medical purposes back in the early 2000s.

"The compression from the arm sleeve helps the arm heal after injuries or to prevent injuries," said Michael Josephs, principal owner, founder, and CEO of Custom Sports Sleeves. "The compression from the sleeves prevents injuries by keeping the muscles warm. It also prevents lactic acid buildup, which is why a lot of tennis players wear the sleeves with the elbow supports so that their elbows don't swing out and dislocate or anything like that with that motion."

Arm sleeves are also very popular with football players. The pad is developed in a way that absorbs impact from falls.

"If you're getting tackled and you get slammed into the ground, instead of your elbow taking the brunt of that force the pad will help soften that impact and prevent some major elbow injuries," Josephs said.

The products are very popular with baseball players, especially pitchers. Given the extension of the arm and the whipping of the elbow, the compression helps the muscle.

"Everything is in there nice and tight and compressed and keeps the blood flowing," Josephs said. "You would think that it would restrict the blood flow but the warmth that the sleeve provides actually enhances that."

CSS runs its business differently than companies like Nike or Under Armour in that it doesn't do any endorsement deals. It promotes themselves through word of mouth and actually has a handful of pro athletes that use its gear. In fact, all of the athletes that use CSS purchase the products directly through their website -- www.customsportssleeves.com.

While Cespedes is not believed to be a customer of CSS, Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is and simply goes online to place his custom order of black, orange, or USA flag sleeves. The flag sleeve was also extensively worn at this year's Little League World Series. Locally, some players on the Giants as well as Yankees minor leaguers Kendall Coleman and Billy Flemming use CSS products. There are likely more but it's hard to tell since some athletes have people ordering items for them.

"We actually have a handful of pro athletes that wear our gear," Josephs said. "We make most of our products here in the United States of America. A lot of the pro athletes that we deal with are in football and baseball with a little bit of basketball."

My son Bradley is a perfect example of how the popularity of arm sleeves has exploded among youth sports players. Now that they've been exposed to the product, they have to have it for a couple of reasons.

"Now the younger kids and younger generation have seen these arm sleeves, there's plenty of uses for injury prevention," Josephs said. "But a lot of kids just want to look like their favorite pro athlete."

CSS produces each arm sleeve to order and that allows customization to the athlete's exact arm dimension. That is a big factor with compression because if the sleeve is too loose, it will slip and won't fit right. If it's too tight, it can restrict blood flow and be a detriment. Athletes have a few things on their mind when they step onto the field, court, or ice. They want to perform well and win, but they also want to protect themselves from injury and look good in the process.

With a plethora of accessories like wristbands, titanium necklaces, gloves, and shoes on the sporting goods market, arm sleeves have become extremely popular by athletes of all ages. One thing is for sure: after the season that Cespedes had, especially after his trade to the Mets, he'll be able to buy a whole bunch of arm sleeves with that new contract coming his way.

You can follow Pete on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan and you can also follow Custom Sports Sleeves @CSSbrand