A cubital tunnel night splint stops the elbow BENDING FULLY while you sleep, usually holding it at around 30 to 45 degrees.
Bending the elbow stretches the ulnar nerve and squeezes it in its groove.
Many people sleep with their elbows tightly bent for hours, which is why ring and little finger tingling is often worst at night and on waking.
For mild to moderate cubital tunnel syndrome, a night splint plus changes to daytime elbow habits is the usual first treatment, tried for around three months.
Why the elbow position matters
- The ulnar nerve runs behind the inner elbow, the funny bone. See the nerve map
- Bending the elbow fully lengthens the path the nerve takes and narrows the tunnel around it
- Pressure on the inner elbow, such as leaning on a desk or armrest, adds compression
- Hours in that position every night keep the nerve irritated even if the day is fine
Many people fix the day and forget the eight hours they spend asleep with their elbows bent.
Who it’s for
- Cubital tunnel syndrome with tingling in the ring and little fingers that comes and goes
- Symptoms waking you, or present first thing in the morning. See hands numb at night
- People who lean on their elbows at work or rest the arm on a window ledge. See professional drivers
The options
- Custom thermoplastic splint on the front of the elbow, holding a set angle
- Padded elbow sleeve with a firm insert, softer and easier to sleep in
- A towel wrapped loosely around the elbow and taped, as a free first trial
- A pad over the inner elbow for daytime leaning
What else goes with it
- Keep the elbow off hard edges and armrests
- Avoid long spells holding a phone to your ear with the elbow bent. Use headphones
- Set desks and keyboards so the elbow sits more open
- Gentle nerve glides, only if they don’t bring on tingling
A typical trial
- Weeks 0 to 4: splint every night, daytime habits changed. Sleep gets easier once you’re used to it
- Weeks 4 to 8: night symptoms usually start to ease if it’s going to work
- Weeks 8 to 12: review. Improving means continue. No change means further assessment and possibly nerve tests
Get it checked sooner if
- Weakness in the hand, clumsiness or dropping things
- Visible wasting in the web between thumb and index finger
- Numbness that no longer comes and goes
- Ring and little fingers starting to curl. Constant symptoms and weakness usually need a surgical opinion
This is one of dozens of splints a hand therapist makes.
See what a hand therapist does for the full list, and nerve conduction tests if yours are booked.
Keep the elbow a little straighter at night and give the nerve three months.
Every article on this site is written using the Closing Window Method: name the window your condition runs on, find where you are in it, and act while it’s still open.