Compression Gloves for Conditions With Hand Pain Symptoms

Anna Giorgi
·6 min read
1

Medically reviewed by Theresa Marko, PT, DPT, MS

Compression gloves work to improve blood flow in your hands, warm your hands, and provide stability to the joints of the fingers through compression. They can help reduce symptoms of pain, joint stiffness, and swelling that often occur with problems like arthritis.

Though research on how compression gloves work has been inconclusive, there is some proof that they provide relief. Wearing well-fitting gloves for at least eight hours daily can help you achieve the most benefits.

This article describes the types of problems that these gloves treat. It also explains how to select and use them.

<p>nito100 / Getty Images</p>

nito100 / Getty Images

Benefits of Compression Gloves for Different Conditions

Compression gloves for hands are also called arthritis gloves. They are often prescribed as part of an overall treatment plan to reduce symptoms in several types of hand disorders.

While compression gloves do not provide the same results as treatments like cortisone shots or surgery, they may improve comfort and hand function by providing the following benefits:

  • Reduce or control swelling in your hands and fingers

  • Support joints

  • Ease joint pain

  • Decrease joint stiffness

  • Increase hand temperature

  • Improved hand dexterity

  • Extend hand range of motion

  • Increase pinch strength

However, it is important to note that some people report that compression makes no difference in hand symptoms compared to regular gloves.

Since pain and symptoms are different in each individual and according to their condition, your experience with compression gloves can vary. Here are some of the conditions that are most likely to benefit from the use of compression gloves:

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is nerve pain, weakness, and numbness affecting your peripheral nerves (those outside your brain and spinal cord, such as in the hands and feet). The condition often occurs due to diabetes though other factors such as physical trauma, autoimmune diseases, and certain medications are also causes.

Symptoms often include chronic pain, tingling, numbness, and weakness in your hands and feet. The pressure from compression gloves may improve these symptoms as it helps to increase blood flow to your hands and reduce inflammation and swelling.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to excessive pressure on your median nerve (one of the major nerves to your hand) at your wrist. It often results from repetitive hand motions like typing, driving, or writing that involve flexing and extending your wrist.

Symptoms can include pain, tingling, or muscle damage in your hand and fingers. Compression gloves, especially those with a carpal tunnel brace, can help keep your wrist in a neutral position to reduce strain, though they won't cure the cause of the pain.

Hand Arthritis

Hand arthritis is inflammation of the joints between the bones of your wrist, hand, and fingers. The problem causes stiffness and pain, limiting movement and hand function.

Compression gloves are often prescribed to improve circulation and treat rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis. This can ease pain and inflammation. While people who use these gloves report improvement, these gloves do not treat the underlying cause of the disease.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon (the connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone). The condition typically occurs due to the stress of repetitive muscle contraction during overuse.

Symptoms of tendonitis include pain and tenderness along the affected tendon, usually near a joint. Pain can worsen with activity. Stiffness can occur after sleep or inactivity. The warmth and support provided by compression on joints may help relieve these symptoms.

Swelling

Edema, or swelling, of your hands occurs when fluid becomes trapped in tissue as a result of injury or inflammation. Swelling in your hands can occur due to arthritis, medications, and serious medical conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

While compression gloves will not correct the cause of hand swelling, they can help reduce the discomfort of swelling. The gentle compression of the gloves helps to push the excess fluid out of your hands during wear.

How Long to Wear Compression Gloves

You should wear compression gloves for a minimum of eight hours to experience their benefits. However, you can wear them as long as needed to help with swelling, pain, or stiffness symptoms.

Compression gloves can be worn while you sleep to reduce morning stiffness and joint pain. Wearing them during the day can help improve hand function, though you should not wear them for 24 hours without removing them occasionally to maintain your skin hygiene.

Many people experience improved hand function and reduced swelling and pain by wearing compression gloves daily. However, they can be inconvenient to take on and off to wash your hands or perform wet and dirty tasks.

Compression gloves should not be worn while driving because they can interfere with your ability to safely grip the steering wheel. In addition, some compression gloves can make your hands too hot to wear for long periods while you perform daily tasks.

Consult your healthcare provider regarding the best way to use compression gloves for your condition. Discontinue using compression gloves and contact your healthcare provider for guidance if you have any of the following symptoms while wearing them:

  • Numbness in your fingers and/or hand

  • A sensation of tingling or pins and needles

  • An allergic reaction (typically itchy skin, redness, or increased swelling)

  • Skin irritation

  • Sleep disturbance due to the effects of the gloves

Compression Glove Materials and Sizing

Selecting the right compression glove size and materials is important because you will be more likely to wear them as advised if they fit comfortably.

Compression gloves are typically manufactured from one or more of the following materials:

When selecting the right size of compression gloves, follow the manufacturer's instructions, since sizes can vary by brand. To get a proper fit, consider visiting a medical supply store to have your hands measured and correctly sized.

Look for the following qualities to ensure a comfortable and proper fit when choosing compression gloves:

  • A snug fit that does not feel too tight

  • Freedom to move your hands and fingers to perform daily tasks

  • Gloves that are free of exterior seams that could exert too much pressure

  • Coverage that supports the parts of your hand that have symptoms (the hand but not the fingers, the full hand and wrist, fingers only, wrist only, or both the hand and fingers)



The Best Compression Gloves

Based on research and the comparison of dozens of compression gloves, the editors at Verywell Health have identified the following products as the best compression gloves available in the categories mentioned:



Summary

Compression gloves can relieve the pain and swelling of some hand problems. While some research suggests they can improve symptoms, everyone does not achieve the same benefits.

Wearing well-fitting compression gloves as advised can help you get the best results. While they will not provide a cure, they may help you with daily functions.

If you have hand pain or swelling symptoms, consult your healthcare provider before treating these problems with compression gloves. Though they may improve symptoms, compression gloves do not treat the underlying causes of these symptoms.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.