The Best Compression Gloves for Arthritis

Buying Guide for Compression Gloves for Arthritis

Why buy compression gloves for arthritis?

Compression gloves are a specialty, often fingerless gloves that fit snugger than regular ones do. Though both types of gloves will keep your hands warm, compression gloves also gently squeeze the hands’ veins when worn. This helps to encourage blood circulation and oxygen delivery and prevent inflammation. Since inflammation causes joint pain in people with certain types of arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, wearing compression gloves may help prevent joint pain and stiffness in people with arthritis in their hands. This can be extremely useful when performing daily tasks, especially those that involve a lot of hand movement, like typing. Some people also wear compression gloves overnight to help prevent waking up to an arthritis flare-up.

What should you look for in compression gloves for arthritis?

• Removability: If someone has arthritis in their hands, their hands and fingers will be less dextrous and have a more limited grip and range of motion than average. Thus you’ll want to look for compression gloves that are easy to get on and off. Look for pairs that slide on and off without any snaps or buttons or zippers or straps; compression gloves are already snug to begin with, which may make them tougher to put on or take off as is.
• Material: There are quite a few different fabrics that compression gloves can be made from. Look for materials that are comfortable against your skin. Breathable or even sweat-wicking fabrics are also a good choice since, especially if you plan to wear them for several hours or all day or overnight, compression gloves warm the hands, and you don’t want to be sweating the whole time you’re wearing them. A machine-washable fabric is a bonus since this will make the gloves much easier to wash and keep clean. Cotton blends are always a good choice since they combine all three factors, especially if mixed with nylon and spandex, to provide extra compression and elasticity.
• Fit: Compression gloves should be snug enough to gently and uniformly squeeze the hands but not so tight that they dig into the skin; the idea is to stimulate circulation, not cut it off. Many compression gloves come in more than one size, but some brands will run smaller or larger than others. To be safe, measure your hands and refer to the product’s sizing chart to ensure the most accurate and best possible fit.

Are compression gloves effective for other hand conditions?

Anyone with some joint swelling or instability or soft tissue injuries can benefit from wearing compression gloves, even if not caused by arthritis. Some doctors or surgeons recommend that patients with a hand fracture or recovering from a hand surgery wear compression gloves to aid with or accelerate the healing process. People who suffer from Raynaud’s Syndrome, tendonitis, rheumatism, or regular hand cramps may also find relief from wearing compression gloves. Some people with typing-intensive jobs like administrative assistants sometimes choose to wear compression gloves to work as a preventive measure for hand cramps and stiffness or to protect their wrists. If you have a hand condition that you think compression gloves might help with, it generally never hurts to give them a try, though talking to your doctor first is generally a good idea.

Our Picks for the Best Compression Gloves for Arthritis

Pros: There’s a lot to love about these classic, well-made compression gloves. They’re soft and comfortable to the touch, so they won’t irritate your hands, especially since they’re made with minimal stitching; fewer raised stitches can potentially rub against your skin. The material is a high-quality cotton and spandex blend, which provides excellent breathability and elasticity without feeling weighed down. They should hold up to multiple trips through the washing machine without issue. And they’re not only available in three different sizes but, unlike many compression gloves, which come only in shades of black or gray, there are five possible color options as well.

Cons: If your arthritis is fairly severe, these gloves might not provide as much relief as you might like as they’re best suited for more minor aches and pains. Also, note that the fingers run long, so if your fingers are on the shorter side, they may be too long for your liking.

Bottom Line: These quintessential compression gloves should suit most people’s needs, arthritis patients and otherwise. They have all the most important features you look for in a set of compression gloves, at an affordable price and with a wider color selection than most.

 

Pros: These compression gloves have the unique feature of coming infused with copper wires, which provides them with a little extra reinforcement and may help keep your hands a bit warmer since copper conducts heat well. As long as you wash them at a cold temperature on a gentle cycle, you can toss these gloves into the washing machine whenever they need cleaning. The fabric is moisture-wicking to prevent your hands from feeling sweaty as you go about your day or when you wake up in the morning, and the non-slip grip on the palms is handy for day-to-day activities like cooking or writing. With four size options available, you should be able to find a pair that fits your hands just right.

Cons: These compression gloves are a bit pricier than most models due to the copper infusion aspect. The non-slip grip wears off over time, and while they’re machine washable, you will have to air or line dry these gloves as they aren’t dryer-safe.

Bottom Line: The copper wires infused in these compression gloves help them hold their shape better for a more extended period. This factor is beneficial if you plan to wear your compression gloves most of the time.

 

Pros: If you have arthritis in your thumb(s) and wrist(s), compression gloves that focus specifically on supporting and compressing those areas will be more useful and effective than general compression gloves. This pair was designed to do just that—and they do come as pair, unlike some thumb-specific products, which only provide a single, reversible compression glove. You’ll receive extra support in the wrist and thumb regions thanks to the internal gel pad in both gloves that is soft to the touch yet adds greater compression. The gloves themselves are made of nylon and latex, so they’re extremely flexible, elastic, and resilient; the fabric will stretch and bounce back better than most. The nylon ensures that they’re nice and breathable as well.

Cons: Since this is a thumb and wrist-specific pair of compression gloves, the design doesn’t cover your entire hand, and you’ll have to find a different pair if you have a latex allergy. They’re also available only in a single size.

Bottom Line: Not everyone has arthritis in their entire hand or fingers; sometimes, it’s restricted only to the wrist or only the thumb. If you’re one such arthritis patient, these specialty compression gloves are ideal for providing relief in those areas without covering up your entire hand.

 

Pros: For some arthritis patients, heat is the best way to reduce or relieve their joints’ pain temporarily. If you’ve found that heat is the more effective method for soothing your arthritis, these compression gloves will be right up your alley. They’re thick, thermal, and trap your body heat, so they’ll provide extra warmth whenever you wear them. The outer layer of the fabric is also textured to provide superior traction when picking up or gripping items. There’s also a Velcro strap at the wrists that allows some adjustability to the fit to supplement the wealth of sizes available—sizing ranges from an extra small to a double extra large.

Cons: The thickness of these gloves also make them stiffer and less flexible than most, so they’re not a great option if you want a more elastic, flexible pair of compression gloves. And they are definitely on the expensive side.

Bottom Line: If warmth is more important to you than dexterity in your compression gloves, this thermal pair will be perfect for your needs. And, unlike with heating pads, you can keep these compression gloves on all day or all night without fear of burning your skin.

 

Pros: An alternative to a full glove for those have arthritis in their fingers rather than the entire hand, these finger sleeves offer plenty of compression for your entire finger and knuckles. You get 10, one for each finger with your purchase, or you have the option to buy a double pack for a very reasonable price if you want to have extras on hand. Since these sleeves only cover most of your fingers rather than the entire hand, they’re already breathable and flexible, and the blend of nylon, spandex, and gelatin silk only makes them more so. In fact, they don’t just work as compression sleeves; you can use them to enhance your grip and prevent calluses while playing sports or gardening or otherwise working with your hands. And since they’re machine washable, they’re extremely easy and convenient to keep clean.

Cons: Though these sleeves will work great for compressing arthritic fingers, you’ll have to stick to a full glove if you want wrist compression and support. Depending on the size and thickness of your fingers, you may find these sleeves a bit too compressive. There aren’t any alternate size options available.

Bottom Line: If you have arthritis in your finger joints and/or knuckles rather than the entire hand, these compression finger sleeves are an alternative option to a set of full compression gloves. They’ll achieve the same effect while keeping the rest of your hand free and unstifled.

Final Thoughts

Arthritis is both a literal and metaphorical pain to live with anywhere in the body, and arthritis in the hands can make it very frustrating to accomplish certain daily tasks or take part in your favorite hobbies. While compression gloves may not treat the arthritis itself, the temporary relief they provide can make your day-to-day life a bit easier.