These Compression Gloves for Arthritis Can Help Reduce Pain and Improve Function
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Millions of people in the U.S. have some form of arthritis and suffer from achy, stiff joints. And while there are several different ways to go about finding pain relief and improved joint mobility, some of the best remedies don’t involve a trip to the pharmacy. Enter: the best arthritis gloves.
Arthritis is a progressive condition characterized by pain or stiffness in the joints—parts of the body where two or more bones meet. It can be caused by simple wear and tear or by an overactive immune system, depending on the type of arthritis. In both cases, the condition can make it harder to carry out everyday activities and have a major impact on a person’s quality of life, especially when you have arthritis in your hands and wrists.
And while studies have shown that joint pain, stiffness, and swelling can improve substantially when compression gloves are used, it can be difficult to decide what product will bring you the most relief and suit your needs—and some products may work better for you than others, so be sure to take your time reading through our assessments. Here, we’ve taken the hard work out of your search and found the best arthritis gloves to fit the bill in every way you may be looking for.
Cotton Arthritis Gloves
These popular-yet-simple gloves are developed by doctors and approved to treat a wide range of inflammatory and circulatory conditions affecting your hands (osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and even soft tissue and sports-related injuries). They even include a doctor-written handbook with your purchase, complete with advice on other ways to reduce pain and inflammation. These gloves are breathable, washable, and extremely affordable, and the fingerless design allows for mobility and dexterity, enabling you to carry out daily tasks with ease.
What the reviews say: “I have trigger finger as well as arthritis in my hands, fingers, and thumbs and find these gloves to be very soothing. I love the support and light compression these gloves give me! I still have the freedom of movement without being restricted or the gloves feeling too tight. I love them and will definitely purchase more!”
Cotton Arthritis Gloves
amazon.com
$9.95
Dr. ArthritisCopper Infused Compression Arthritis Gloves
If you’re looking for an inexpensive solution for your arthritis, you can’t go wrong with these. These gloves are made from a breathable cotton and spandex blend and feature a nearly seamless design to prevent rubbing and irritation, making them even more comfortable than other gloves. Like many other picks on our list, these gloves are fingerless, which means they allow for full use of your hands and fingers, and the light compression is just enough to promote circulation without feeling too restrictive.
What the reviews say: “If you are looking for relief from joint pain without all the medication, this is it! At first, it seemed simply comforting. Then as I left them on for a while, I almost forgot my hands were hurting as bad as they were. My pain level is usually around a 7, sometimes more if it’s a bad day. These gloves bring the pain in my hands down to a 3.”
Copper Infused Compression Arthritis Gloves
amazon.com
$9.97
ComfyBraceCompression Orthopedic Brace
In contrast to the popular fingerless glove design, this compression sleeve is ideal for wrist and thumb arthritis sufferers. This sleeve offers medical-grade compression—an ideal feature for anyone who wants to promote circulation and blood flow. It’s also versatile and can be worn on either the left or the right hand. Bonus: it uses K-zone technology to keep the wrist stabilized—ie. It functions like kinesiology taping without the tape.
What the reviews say: “Love that I didn’t have to choose right or left—this works on either hand. I have a permanent stress injury and need to wear flexible hand/wrist/arm supports throughout the day, depending on what I’m doing. This goes on easily while also providing comfortable support without rigidity.”
Compression Orthopedic Brace
amazon.com
$18.95
OrthoSleeveArthritis Gloves
Copper Compression’s Arthritis Gloves are designed to provide you with the compression to help reduce swelling and pressure, increase blood flow, restrict excess fluid build-up, and relieve aching and soreness in joints. These fingerless gloves offer support in managing medical conditions such as: arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, typing, texting, and repetitive stress injuries. And according to the brand, the 4-Way stretch construction, open finger design, and non-slip palm grips allow you your full range of motion and grip, so there’s no impact on your dexterity and fine motor skills. And with over 35,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, it’s a clear favorite among reviewers.
What a tester says: “I liked that the gloves were comfortable to wear, were moisture-wicking, and had nice color options, and did help with gripping items. I did not register less pain while wearing the gloves, but I can see how they might work better for someone else. I wish that this fingerless glove design extended more above my wrist for increased stability.”
Arthritis Gloves
amazon.com
$24.95
Copper CompressionCore Compression Infrared Full Finger Gloves
Heat therapy can greatly improve joint pain and stiffness from arthritis. According to the brand, these gloves use infrared yarn, infused with ceramic infrared-emitting particles, which absorb your body’s natural heat energy and then release infrared heat energy back into your body, helping to promote circulation, muscle and joint stiffness. And while the full finger design can be more restrictive, they do feature a text-friendly thumb and index finger to allow for gloves-on use of phones and tablets.
What the reviews say: “My husband is in construction and has issues with pain in his hands at night. THIS WORKS! We were so glad to find this product as it is drug free and has no side effects. I was honestly surprised it worked but he won’t sleep without it now whenever he experiences pain.”
Core Compression Infrared Full Finger Gloves
amazon.com
$29.00
Tommie CopperLong Arthritis Pain Relief Gloves
Sometimes arthritis pain and discomfort can extend beyond your fingers to your wrists, forearms, and elbows. If you struggle with pain on your arm as well as your hand, it can help to have a longer option like this one. The copper-infused nylon provides enough compression for comfort and support and the fabric offers anti-odor technology, so you can wear them all-day long without worrying about lingering smells.
What the reviews say: “Great quality. I bought these for a friend who has tendonitis in her hands, along with tennis elbow. Great idea to take care of both issues at one time!”
Long Arthritis Pain Relief Gloves
amazon.com
$25.75
Copper CompressionCotton Arthritis Gloves (Full-Length)
Most compression gloves tend to be fingerless, meaning they cut off at a joint midway up your finger to allow you freedom to use your fingers. However, if you experience swelling or pain in your fingertips, you’ll want gloves that cover your whole hand. These full-finger gloves are made from the same nylon and cotton blend as our “best overall” pick, with the addition of fingertip compression for your fingers and your thumb. Plus, the fingertips on the gloves help keep heat in, so they’re warmer to wear in colder climates.
What the reviews say: “I would wake up because my thumb joint hurt. So I took a look and found these gloves and they worked like magic. I wore them at night and because they had a compression, it reduced my swelling in the morning and I am now sleeping throughout the night. I love these gloves!”
Cotton Arthritis Gloves (Full-Length)
amazon.com
$15.95
Dr. ArthritisBrownmed - Intellinetix Therapy Gloves
Vibrating gloves are a relatively new arthritis therapy, but research featuring these gloves has shown great potential for pain relief. A small 2018 study tested Intellinetix Therapy Gloves on women who live with osteoarthritis and showed that women reported reduced pain symptoms after using these vibrating gloves once per day for 20 minutes. The vibrating motors embedded in the gloves are designed to work to increase circulation and warm the joints. These gloves feature three different vibration levels and are rechargeable for 40 minutes of use at a time.
What the reviews say: “Really enjoying the vibrating arthritis gloves. I use them as I watch TV. Helps with the pain from daily activities. My only wish is that they were also heated. Maybe next edition?”
Brownmed - Intellinetix Therapy Gloves
amazon.com
$119.99
IntellinetixPremium Arthritic Gloves Pair
These Thermoskin fingerless gloves are crafted to ease arthritis pain in the hands and fingers by retaining warmth and delivering moderate pressure. With textured palms and exposed fingertips, these gloves are designed for users to firmly grip and sense items, making this pair ideal for unrestricted everyday use. They also have a wrist strap if you need increased wrist stability.
What the reviews say: “I bought these for my father and his hand felt so much better just minutes after he put the gloves on. It was like Cinderella finding her glass slipper. Just three months later, the glove had healed his hand so much that he now only needs to wear the gloves occasionally. With or without the gloves, he can move his hand freely again to do basic tasks, be handyman around the house, and do the rest of his daily manly tasks.”
Premium Arthritic Gloves Pair
amazon.com
$31.76
ThermoskinGreen Relief Arthritis Gloves
Hempvana’s Green Relief Gloves are crafted with 100% pure hemp fiber, which is also moisture wicking, according to the company. The fingerless design with grips on the palms allows for enhanced sensory input and dexterity. With comfortable compression and paraben- and phthalate-free materials, these gloves may also be an ideal choice for people with sensitive skin or allergies.
What the reviews say: “These are the BEST for hand pain, joint swelling, and so on. While they’re not quite as tight as I might prefer, they do become so if there is significant swelling. They are comfortable to wear for a long time, with rubber/silicone gripes on the palms and fingers to make opening and holding things easier.”
Green Relief Arthritis Gloves
amazon.com
$18.99
HempvanaHow to choose the best arthritis gloves
Here are some important things to consider when shopping for arthritis gloves:
Location of arthritis. Gloves for arthritis come in a great deal of styles, including full finger, half-finger, fingerless, and full sleeve. If you suffer mainly from arthritis in your carpals (hand and wrist bones), then fingerless may fit your daily needs. If you have arthritis in your fingertips or extending up your arm to your elbow, you may want to try a full-finger or full-sleeve style, respectively.
Type of therapy. If simple compression is what you are looking for in your arthritis gloves, most of our selections on our list will fit that criteria. If, however, you are looking for a warming sensation or are curious to see how vibration might provide you with some relief, you may want to try one of the options on our list that offer these special features.
Fit. Some arthritis gloves come in a wide range of sizes, while others only come in two. Use the brand’s provided sizing guides to best figure out which size may work best for you. Additionally, you may also want to consider choosing your gloves based on material. Most picks on our list are made of either cotton, nylon, or a mix of both. For sensitive skin and allergy sufferers, the hemp fiber option for “best moisture wicking” may be a good fit.
How we chose the best arthritis gloves
We looked at medical studies, conducted our own testing, and examined countless online reviews from verified customers to ensure that we selected the best arthritis gloves for each unique need.
Why trust us
For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.
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