How Arthritis Gloves Work
Arthritis gloves may work through several mechanisms. Thermal gloves warm the hand, which can make you feel very comfortable and even take away some of the pain, says Karen Jacobs, EdD, OT, OTR, CPE, FAOTA, a clinical professor at Boston University and an occupational therapist who works with arthritis patients.
Others are compression gloves that provide pressure. Particularly when youre having a flare in the fingers and joints and just feeling really uncomfortable, the compression seems to help reduce the swelling and can help with some joint stiffness as well, says Jacobs. Compression may also improve blood circulation. Overall, arthritis gloves can make patients feel more relaxed and calm with a reduction in symptoms.
What Do These Results Mean
On aversage, neither type of glove made a big difference to hand symptoms and hand function. Although participants in both groups reported positive effects after wearing the gloves, these improvements are likely a result of the added warmth and feeling of support they felt. This is contrary to what was believed, which is that the increased pressure from wearing compression gloves is the active ingredient. Due to these findings, the researchers who conducted this study also did a thorough cost analysis for the prescription of compression gloves within the NHS and have called for guidelines around compression gloves for arthritis to be reviewed.
How To Care For Copper Gloves
Copper gloves require slightly more care than regular gloves or garments but are not overly difficult to take care of. In order to protect the copper content in your gloves, you will likely need to machine wash cold or by hand and leave to air dry. Furthermore, you may want to use less harsh detergents or soaps when washing to avoid unwanted chemical reactions between the detergent and the copper.
Washing too frequently can also contribute to a reduction in copper content so be sure to wash only when necessary. Any bacteria, viruses or odors on the gloves should generally be mitigated automatically due to the antimicrobial and odor-fighting properties of the copper in the gloves, although you should still wash them every now and then.
Recommended Reading: Crippling Arthritis Symptoms
Are Arthritis Gloves Right For Me
It depends. Like many treatments, the gloves don’t work for everyone. But it’s a fairly small investment to see if they provide you any relief. You can shop online on your own or ask your doctor for recommendations. Search around to find the features that work best for you. Here are some guidelines:
- Fit: The compression won’t work if the gloves don’t fit properly. Look for the right size or adjustable gloves.
- Fabric: You need to wear them for eight hours to get the most benefit, so having a breathable fabric is key. You don’t want your hands to get too sweaty. Some gloves even have UV protection or odor-neutralizing fabrics. You’ll also want a flexible fabric if you’ll be wearing them during the day. Stiffer gloves lessen your range of motion and may work better if you plan to only wear them at night.
- Fingers: Most arthritis gloves are fingerless. This gives you the most freedom and range of motion if you’re wearing them during the day. Full-finger gloves may work fine for you overnight.
- Features: Look at the level of compression and whether the gloves have heat therapy to decide what will best suit your symptoms.
If you’re overwhelmed by the choices, talk to a doctor or a physical therapist for recommendations. They can also help you fit the gloves properly.
Dr Arthritis Compression Gloves
- Price: $$
- Key features: These simple, cotton-nylon blend gloves are loved by reviewers, developed by doctors, and approved to treat a wide range of inflammatory and circulatory conditions affecting your hands. Theyre meant to be breathable and easy to clean. These gloves are also on the lower end of the pricing scale, and reviewers say that they are comfortable enough to sleep in.
- Considerations: These compression gloves are a great pick for daily use and can be used comfortably for hours at a time. But dont expect for them to last forever. Even the happiest customers reported that they expected to replace the gloves every few months.
Also Check: Arthritis Itchy Skin
Do Compression Gloves For Arthritis Work
by Staff Writer | Jul 1, 2021 | Tips & Tricks
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, there is a good chance you first started to notice it in the small joints of your hands. Both inflammatory arthritis and osteoarthritis can cause pain, swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in your hands and fingers, which make day-to-day life a challenge.
If you are living with chronic pain, swelling, and stiffness, you are looking for some pain relief. That may come in the form of a pain cream or in the form of arthritis gloves.
Occupational therapists sometimes recommend these tight and often fingerless gloves to help symptoms associated with arthritis and make it easier to deal with your daily activities through day-to-day wear.
If you are still skeptical about using arthritis gloves, read on to learn how they may help make your computer scrolling fingers a little more comfortable and provide pain relief.
Types Of Arthritis Gloves
There are two main types of arthritis gloves: thermal gloves and compression gloves.
Thermal gloves are intended to alleviate pain and provide mobility by keeping the hands warm and comfortable.
Compression gloves for arthritis may help alleviate pain and swelling by removing fluid buildup around the finger joints. Its unknown how much compression is needed in a glove to be useful, but its best to avoid excessive compression, which may restrict blood flow.
Don’t Miss: What Causes Arthritis Flare Up In Hands
Tips For Maximum Relief
Dr. Arthritis, a brand known for their line of compression gloves, created their collection anchored on the founders experience and insight as medical practitioners. To that end, here are some tips they have to make sure that you get the most out of your compression gloves
Make sure your gloves fit well. They shouldnt be too tight, nor should they be too loose or you wont get the benefits you need from them. Consult a doctor or your physical therapist if you need help determining the right fit.
Wear your gloves as long as you can. Overnight would be best, but if this isnt possible, just make sure that you stick to the eight hour rule.
Make sure your gloves provide even support across your wrists and fingers.
The brands collection is made using a high quality blend of 88 percent copper nylon with 12 percent spandex making it one of the products with the highest copper content available, and ensuring all-day comfort.
Dr. Arthritis main mission is to improve the lives of people who suffer from joint and muscle painregardless if its because they suffer from conditions like arthritis or are recovering from an injury. The line was founded by two practicing medical doctors from Imperial College London, whose on-ground experience and medical expertise contributed to the development of the product.
Visit to check out the entire line and enjoy the benefits of compression therapy today.
What Features Does Copperfit Carry
At the time of writing, CopperFit® has been touted for its lightweight and form-fitting nature, adding that it can be perceived as a second skin. Next, the Sure-Grip bands are said to promote non-slip grip for maximum control. The wicking fabric is celebrated for its breathability, so theres a low possibility of excess sweating and odor while wearing these gloves. Also, the gloves have been designed to include open fingers for full range of motion and precision. Finally, compression levels can be adjusted using the Velcro strap.
Read Also: Autoimmune Leg Pain
Ironclad Immortals Pc Gaming Gloves
- Price: $$$
- Key features: Long sessions of computer or console gaming can cause cramping in your hands. Gaming gloves may provide relief, but its essential to find gloves that still allow for freedom of movement and that dont turn your hands into a sweaty, uncoordinated mess. These gloves are meant to improve your grip for a better gaming performance while keeping cramping and sweaty fingers from becoming an issue. They also have hand wrist padding, which can make gaming sessions at a keyboard more comfortable, and theyre machine-washable.
- Considerations: These gloves are fingerless, so you may still get sweaty on your fingertips while youre gaming. Theyre marketed for use for PC, but should also work great for console gaming. Youll also want to be aware that these gloves offer less compression than some other options on this list, which makes them ideal for the finger movements required in gaming but might not help with conditions like arthritis.
How Therapy Gloves Help
Try all the different kinds of gloves to find the right one for you. One type keeps your hands warm. These are known as thermals. Another gives you extra support. These are called glove splints. The compression type will provide pressure on your aching fingers and hand joints. You can choose a glove with a combination of features.
In addition to easing your symptoms, they may also help you feel more relaxed and calm. The gloves arenât going to do much to help you regain the use of your hands, but they might improve your grip.
The gloves are designed to be worn for 8 hours — about the length of time you sleep. So if you keep them on overnight, you might see a difference in:
Swelling. Compression gloves can help with puffy fingers.
Hand pain. If you wear them at night, your hands might hurt less while you sleep.
Joint stiffness. Your fingers may be easier to move in the morning.
Use of your hand. Your grip can get better, but youâre not going to be more nimble.
The gloves, and how effective they are, really depends on you and how you react to them. They might help with one symptom but not another. Or they could have no effect at all.
Read Also: Stop Arthritis In Fingers
How Do Copper Compression Gloves Differ From Regular Compression Gloves
While there are many different types of arthritis gloves available on the market, copper compression gloves are the best for those who are looking for more than one way to alleviate pain. The combined firmness and warmth provided by the compression gloves can help externally soothe inflamed joints and offer overall comfort. Additionally, the therapeutic effects and anti-inflammatory properties of copper can improve joint stiffness, limited mobility, and in turn, relieve pain from your hands and fingers.
Moreover, the premium copper material used in our copper compression gloves provides antimicrobial and antifungal properties for an extra layer of protection. The copper-infused fabric can also stimulate oxygen delivery in sore muscles, promoting better blood flow to inflamed joints. This effectively further reduces inflammation and provides better support that accelerates recovery.
Whether you suffer from hand pain caused by arthritic symptoms or other conditions such as Raynauds syndrome or carpal tunnel, our selection of compression gloves are made with the best materials on the market. Choose between our full-fingered or fingerless styles, you are guaranteed to find a pair of compression gloves that suit your needs. Shop Dr. Arthritis compression gloves and wrist support now!
A New Study Sheds Light On How The Effectiveness Of Arthritis Gloves
A new randomised controlled clinical trial has found that the benefits achieved from wearing compression gloves for arthritis, are however, unlikely to be from the pressure they put on the hands. Researchers gave participants either an appropriately fitted popular brand of good quality compression gloves or a pair of gloves that were looser fitting and looked similar, but were made from a slightly thinner material. What was being tested here is whether the pressure from wearing real compression gloves truly contributes to improvements in symptoms of hand arthritis. If pressure is key to these effects, then wearing comparable gloves, without the pressure wouldnt have the same benefits.
Recommended Reading: Joint Pain Medical Term
Am I A Good Candidate For Arthritis Gloves
While several types of arthritis can cause hand pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis tend to be the biggest culprits. Anyone suffering from hand pain that has been diagnosed with an inflammatory type of arthritis may be a good candidate for arthritis gloves.
If you are suffering from hand swelling, joint stiffness, joint pain, or a limited range of motion in your hands, you could find relief from adding gloves to your treatment regimen.
As with all types of treatment, youll want to consult your doctor before trying them.
What Studies Say About Arthritis Gloves
Unfortunately, there isnt a whole lot of science behind the gloves yet, anyway. So far, studies have been inconclusive in proving that arthritis gloves actually improve symptoms. But anecdotally, many arthritis patients who use them have found relief. I love my gloves and swear by them, Tien Sydnor-Campbell, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, told us on Facebook. Another arthritis patient, Sue Fundakowski, told us, I wear them at night when I cant sleep because my hands hurt too much. Helps a lot!
As a professional OT, Jacobs says she will advise patients to wear arthritis gloves. Occupational therapists sometimes do recommend gloves and thats very appropriate, she says. If someone is saying, Im having a lot of pain and discomfort but I want to keep typing on the computer or I want to continue playing squash or racquetball or tennis or I want to keep gardening, the gloves may help them continue doing everyday activities and hobbies they enjoy.
Also Check: What Can You Take For Arthritis In Your Fingers
Copper Fit Gloves Review
These open-finger compression gloves provide support to the hands for work and play, while the breathable fabric helps minimize moisture and odor. The advertising states that the compression is adjustable, but that is primarily around the wrist area with a Velcro strap that can be used to tighten it. Small rubberized grips also line the palm area to prevent slippage.
The advertising for Copper Fit Gloves hints that they can be used to increase performance and also lessen pain and stiffness. As someone who owns numerous Copper Fit products and has used support gloves for those reasons, I do know that such a garment can provide a moderate amount of relief. Keep in mind that wearing compression-wear wont address an underlying condition, but in some circumstances it can provide enough support to allow you to function.
Ive seen compression gloves used not just for athletes, but for office workers suffering from carpal tunnel, arthritis, injuries, or those who use their hands for crafts such as needlepoint.
I have not seen Copper Fit Gloves in stores, which means you currently have to order from the website. If you would prefer not to order online and pay shipping, you can probably just wait a few months until it can be found locally, assuming it makes it out of test marketing and into full production.
Best Budget: Vive Arthritis Gloves
-
Runs small
We know how hard it is to pay for a new product without knowing if it will actually help you feel better. Its even harder when that new product isnt cheap: You dont want to waste money on something that doesnt work, but you also dont want to sacrifice quality for a cheaper price tag.
If you are trying to decide whether or not to buy yourself a pair of arthritis gloves, we have a solution: this budget-friendly pair from Vive. Dont let the budget descriptor fool you these gloves receive consistently high marks from reviewers for comfort and durability. Theyre flexible, fingerless, and made with seams designed to limit skin irritation.
Material: Cotton-spandex blend | Number of Sizes Available: 5
Also Check: Best Treatment For Arthritis Pain In Hands
Some People Living With Arthritis Have Found Their Symptoms Lessen When Wearing These Special Gloves Heres How They Work
Both inflammatory and osteoarthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in hands and fingers, and those of us who live with these conditions will look to almost anything to get relief. Enter arthritis gloves, which are tight, often fingerless gloves that purport to improve symptoms. But are they really effective?
What To Look For In Compression Gloves
When youre buying compression gloves, think about what, exactly, your primary use for them is going to be.
Maybe your primary goal is to reduce swelling and pressure on your joints. Maybe youre looking for gloves that redistribute heat to your hand because of Reynauds or another health condition.
Or maybe youre simply looking for gloves that reduce cramping in your hands, or that keep your wrist steady while youre typing. Its important to know what the primary function of the glove needs to be before you buy.
You may also want to consider:
You May Like: Sudden Arthritis
You May Be Interested To Read
Another summary of this research paper by Kudos – Arthritis gloves: are they effective and cost-effective?
A summary of previous work highlighting the lack of evidence into arthritis gloves: Do arthritis gloves work?
Qualitative research from the same group into patients’ views and experiences: Prior Y, and others. Does wearing arthritis gloves help with hand pain and function? A qualitative study into patients views and experiences. Rheumatology Advances in Practice 2022 6:1
Funding: This paper presents independent research funded by the NIHR under its Research for Patient Benefit Programme.
Conflicts of Interest: The study authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Disclaimer: NIHR Alerts are not a substitute for professional medical advice. They provide information about research which is funded or supported by the NIHR. Please note that views expressed in NIHR Alerts are those of the author and reviewer and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.