One of the more popular products from the Dr. Arthritis line are our compression gloves for arthritis.

We designed them to be easy to wear, accessible, and effective. Some are made with copper-infused fabric for anti-microbial purposes; others with thicker cotton fabric for additional support. Some are full-fingered for warmth and protection, others are open-finger for better dexterity. 

Regardless of which one you choose and use, people who do wear it—mostly people living with arthritis—swear by them.

But take note, getting the maximum benefit out of your gloves comes down to a lot of factors, such as understanding how compression gloves actually work, what they do, how they should fit, and so on. 

This post will hopefully break it all down for you. 

How Do Compression Gloves Work? 

The most common forms of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, cause pain, swelling, and stiffness. Often, patients feel it in their small joints, affecting the flexibility and dexterity of their hands and fingers. 

Mornings are especially tough. At night, when patients have little control over the position of their hands and are left immobile for extended periods, joints tend to lock up. If the weather is particularly bad, this often leads to swelling and stiffness. By the time they wake up, their hands can barely move. 

Here’s where compression gloves come in. 

What do compression gloves do? Compression gloves, also referred to as arthritis gloves, are meant to deliver graduated pressure to your joints. The compression helps facilitate better blood flow to your hands that can minimize swelling and help with joint stiffness. The fabric helps deliver warmth that provides comfort and support for joints, and may even improve blood circulation and range of motion. 

Do Compression Gloves for Arthritis Work? 

Anecdotal evidence shows us that they do. But here’s a caveat—its efficacy is hinged on multiple factors. This is largely why Dr. Arthritis backs their products with round-the-clock customer support. 

Compression gloves minimize arthritis symptoms, however it’s really important that the gloves fit you really well. This leads to multiple other questions: 

How tight should compression gloves be? 

Arthritis gloves can’t be too loose or too tight. You have to get the fit just right to get real benefit from it. Remember, hands tend to swell up when you’re flaring, which will make compression gloves that are too small incredibly uncomfortable. On the flip side, if you get a pair that’s too big, then you’re not getting any kind of compression, which is needed manage pain, swelling, and stiffness. 

Some patients have shared personal tips on finding the right fit: 

• If you intend to wear them overnight (patients have shared they help with swelling and stiffness in the morning) go up a size so you’re not constricting blood flow. 

• Purchase gloves in several sizes—a bigger one for days when you’re flaring, and a smaller one for when you’re trying to prevent symptoms and give your hands additional support if you’re doing a lot of work with it such as gardening or cooking. 

• Comfort and pain will vary from one arthritis sufferer to another—try out different pairs and styles and make sure the brand has great customer support to help you with returns and exchanges. 

How long should you wear compression gloves for arthritis? 

In order to get real relief from compression gloves, you have to keep them on long enough. Most people think that wearing them for a few minutes at a time is enough to get the compressive benefits of the gloves. But we recommend to keep the gloves on for eight hours. 

Wearing them throughout the day can help make it easier for you to go about your daily tasks as your hands have additional support. However, there are downsides to this as well. 

For example, it can be quite a hassle to keep removing the gloves to wash your hands. Or you might live in a place where the climate is warm and it can get too hot to wear gloves throughout the day. 

All things considered, arthritis patients have these tips to share: 

• Choose the style and fabric of your gloves well—you have options. Copper-infused fabrics are usually lightweight and ideal for hotter climates. The anti-microbial features makes it ideal for long-wear as well. 

• Full-fingered options are great for colder weather as it provides additional warmth; open-finger styles are better for people who need more flexibility with their hands. 

• You will want to choose something with soft, flexible fabric since you’re meant to wear them for several hours, but make sure that it still offers good compression and support. 

Do Compression Gloves Work For Carpal Tunnel? 

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, gets compressed. When there’s pressure on it, it can lead to pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. 

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, you will need something that can stabilize the wrist joint A more effective option would be a heavier brace or splint that will help keep your hand in a neutral position and reduce the pressure on the median nerve. 

Do Compression Gloves Help Raynaud’s

Raynaud’s is a condition where blood vessels in fingers and toes constrict because of the cold. Stress and certain medications can also cause symptoms. The narrowing of the vessels reduces blood supply to these parts of the body, which is what causes the toes and fingers to change color. Additionally, patients also experience numbness, pain, and tingling similar to “pins-and-needles. 

One of the best ways to manage Raynaud’s is by keeping your feet and toes warm. And one of the simplest ways to do that is by wearing compression gloves. Compression gloves are tight-knit, which protects the hands from the cold and helps the hands retain heat. 

Depending on your climate, you may want to choose gloves with thicker or thinner fabrics. Be sure to browse through all your options. 

Compression Glove Essentials: Fit, Fabric, and Style

The best way to really tell if a compression glove is working is to give it a test run. Getting the right fit, choosing the right fabric, and finding the right style for your needs can take a bit of trial and error. 

This is why it’s so important that you purchase compression gloves from a reliable, reputable brand with great customer service. With a great customer care team to help address your concerns, you can easily get all your questions answered before making a purchase and ensure that they will assist you in case you need to replace or exchange your gloves. 

That said, if you’re interested in browsing through our extensive selection of compression gloves, visit this link here. And for any questions or concerns, email our customer service team (which include a team of medical doctors) 

Read about compression gloves for arthritis: 

A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Perfect Arthritis Compression Gloves