Compression Gloves for Arthritis: What to Know Before You Buy

When arthritis affects your hands, it can make everyday tasks difficult. Fortunately, there are several ways to manage your symptoms, including using compression gloves for arthritis.

Compression gloves apply pressure to the hands and fingers. They're designed to reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling. Severaltypes of arthritiscan cause these uncomfortable symptoms. Examples include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.

But do compression gloves really work? Or, are there any reasons not to wear them? Learn about the potential benefits of compression gloves for arthritis. Plus, get tips on how to find a suitable pair and when to wear them.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• What kind of arthritis occurs in hands?You may think of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when you think of arthritis in the hand. Butpsoriatic arthritiscan affect your hands, too.
• Osteoarthritis versus rheumatoid arthritis:These conditions usually affect different joints in the fingers and hands. Learn aboutdifferencesbetween osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• How to treat Reynaud's phenomenon:Wearing gloves is a simple treatment for this condition. But when lifestyle measures aren't enough,medicationcan help.

How do compression gloves for arthritis work? Compression gloves apply gentle, constant pressure to the hands and fingers. This compression can support the hand and finger joints, as well as provide comfort.

Small studies of people with rheumatoid arthritis suggest that compression gloves might help. They may provide thefollowing benefits:

• Provide warmth (which is thought to increase blood flow)
• Ease pain and stiffness
• Reduce swelling
• Improvegrip strength

But a largerrandomized trialdidn't find any improvement in daytime hand pain or function from compression gloves when compared with other gloves. Similarly, study participants havereportedthat gloves provide benefits - although this was also true of other gloves without compression. So, it's not clear if compression gloves work better for arthritis than typical gloves.

There's not much researchon the use of compression gloves for other types of arthritis.

Is it OK to wear compression gloves all the time? Compression gloves are best worn for an extended period of time to reap the potential benefits. But they shouldn't be worn around the clock. Non-stop compression could cause skin irritation.

If they're too tight, compression gloves could damage nerves and blood vessels. If you wear them for several hours, make sure to remove them periodically to give your hands a break. That said, there aren't specific recommendations for compression glove use.

Compression gloves can be worn for daytime or nighttime use. If worn during the day, you can wear them while performing many daily activities - except driving. The gloves may be too slippery for holding the steering wheel. Wearing compression gloves at night might help reduce morning pain and stiffness. But some find themtoo hotor uncomfortable for nighttime wear.

If you have medically prescribed compression gloves or garments, follow the advice of the healthcare professional who prescribed them. They'll give you guidance on how long you should wear them.

When should you not use compression therapy? Avoid compression gloves or other compression garments if you have certain medical conditions. In some cases, compression canmake conditions worse.

Talk with a healthcare professional before using compression gloves if you have any of the following in your hands:

• Circulation problems
• Nerve damage, including peripheral neuropathy from diabetes orcarpal tunnel syndrome
• Skin infection

If you havelymphedema, talk to a healthcare professional. They'll determine what type of compression garment is right for you. A physical therapist who specializes inlymphedema treatmentwill take measurements of your fingers, hand, and arm. These measurements will determine the correct garment size and level of compression.

What should you look for when buying compression gloves for arthritis? When looking to buy compression gloves, there are a few features that you should keep in mind. These factors will help you to get the best-fitting pair:

• Proper fit:Fit is the most important characteristic of compression gloves. Gloves that are too tight can restrict your circulation, which can be painful and potentially make swelling worse. And gloves that are too loose might not be able to reduce swelling. Take measurements of your hands and fingers to determine the correct size.
• Material:Most compression gloves are made ofnylon and elastane(like Lycra or Spandex). These materials allow the gloves to stretch and wick moisture away.
• Compression level:Depending on the materials, the level of compression will vary between different gloves. You may have to try out a few pairs to see what works best for you. But that may not be feasible due to cost.
• Finger coverage:Many types of compression gloves leave the tips of the fingers exposed. This helps with being able to feel and hold things better. It's also helpful when using touch-screen technology. If you have swelling, pain, or stiffness that extends to the very tips of your fingers, you may want to consider gloves that fully cover the fingers.

It's important to note here that, according to some experts, compression gloves arenot a cost-effective wayto treat symptoms of hand arthritis. In other words, if you're on a tight budget, or your insurance won't cover compression gloves, don't feel like you have to buy them. Consider wearing regular gloves more often. Or, talk with your physical therapist or primary care provider about other ways to manage your symptoms.

h2]:mt-0
[&h2]:mb-[12px]
[&h2]:font-header-m
sm:[&h2]:font-header-l
[&p:first-of-type]:mt-0
[&ul:first-of-type]:mt-0
[&ol:first-of-type]:mt-0
[&*:last-child]:mb-0
[&*:last-childli:last-child]:mb-0
" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line The gentle pressure applied to the hands and fingers from compression gloves may help ease symptoms of arthritis. These gloves may help ease pain, swelling, and stiffness, which can help with everyday activities. But the research is unclear on how much they improve function. Check with a healthcare professional before using compression gloves. You shouldn't use them if you have conditions that affect your nerves or blood vessels.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.