The Best Arthritis Gloves for Hand Pain

It is predicted that more than 75 million people in the U.S will be diagnosed with arthritis by the year 2040.

Meanwhile, the Arthritis Foundation estimates that 54 million people are currently diagnosed with this condition.

Some of the most common symptoms of this chronic inflammatory disease include pain, stiffness, swelling, and restricted range of motion in your hands and fingers.  

Arthritis can lead to impaired hand function and can cause difficulty while trying to accomplish daily tasks such as gardening, typing, or simply trying to open a jar.

This is where arthritis gloves come in.

They are known to improve blood circulation and help relieve pain and swelling, stiff joints and other arthritis symptoms.

In this post, we’ll explain the purpose of arthritis gloves, along with their uses and benefits, and we’ll highlight the distinct features to look for when purchasing arthritis gloves.

We’ll also feature 7 of the best arthritis gloves on the market to date and suggest our ‘top pick’ from the list. 

How do Arthritis Gloves Work?

Arthritis gloves, also known as compression gloves, were created to manage the symptoms associated with arthritis and can be worn at night or during the day.

They provide heat and compression on the affected area.

The heat helps with stiffness and pain, while the compression relieves swelling and increases blood circulation.  

Some arthritis gloves also contain copper which can help with inflammation.

Arthritis gloves have been proven to help with different types of arthritis, as well as other conditions such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, or even sports-related injuries.

So if you suffer from any of these ailments, you might need to invest in a pair of arthritis gloves.

Do Arthritis Gloves Work?

WebMD notes that the use of arthritis gloves is recommended by therapists to help ease pain and swelling.  Research backs up these claims as well.

A study in Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease notes that occupational therapists recommend these compression gloves as an alternative mode of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Furthermore, persons included in the study experienced improvements in swelling, stiffness and pain after wearing the gloves.

What to Look For When Buying Arthritis Gloves

Not all arthritis gloves are created equal, so if you’ve never purchased one before; it’s important to make sure you understand the features of the best arthritis gloves. 

The right glove for you will depend on things such as cost, size, purpose of use and several other factors.

Below are a few things to consider before purchasing your arthritis gloves.

Coverage

Depending on your needs, you should decide whether you’ll need full-finger coverage or a fingerless option.

Full-finger arthritis gloves cover the entire hands, from fingertips to wrist.

This is useful if you experience pain in your entire hands and fingers. If you plan to wear your gloves while you sleep, this is also a good option.

Fingerless gloves, however, do not fully cover your fingers; they cover your hand and the lower half of your fingers.

These offer more flexibility and are often used during the workday, while performing everyday tasks.

Flexibility

You’ll need a glove that offers compression, but it should still provide you with the mobility needed to move about without restrictions during daily activities.

This is especially important if you’ll be wearing your gloves at work.

The type of material can affect the flexibility of the product; nylon, spandex and cotton blends are very flexible so pay close attention to those materials.

Fingerless compression gloves might offer more flexibility than full-finger options as well.

Period of Use

Some gloves are only meant to be worn for a few hours max while others offer a full day of use.

Pay close attention to this feature before purchase.

If you need gloves to sleep in at night then you can opt for one that allows up to 8 hours of use.

However, if you plan to wear your arthritis gloves at the office all day, and even during the night then you’ll have to find a product that offers 24-hour use.

Comfort

Another important feature of your arthritis gloves is that they should be comfortable. This has a lot to do with size and fabric.

You should feel some sort of compression when wearing your gloves, but it should not restrict blood flow or movement. So pay close attention to the sizing chart.

Other things such as abrasive materials, tight straps and itchy tags can also affect the comfort level of your gloves.

To avoid these issues, make sure to read the customer feedback from users to get an insight on the best option for you.

The 7 Best Arthritis Gloves in 2023

Now that you understand the important elements of an arthritis glove, let’s take a look at the best arthritis gloves on the market.

We’ve based our selections on customer feedback, ease-of-use, comfort level and durability.

This brand gets bragging rights for having the highest copper content of all the arthritis gloves on the market.

The copper, as well as other copper compression products are infused in the fabric.

The Copper Compression Arthritis Gloves utilize premier quality copper— instead of copper oxide, so it contains genuine copper ions.

Available in small, medium, large and extra-large, these fingerless gloves can help to support and strengthen sore muscles and stiff joints, without restricting your range of motion.

These are commonly used by persons suffering from stiff joints and tendons, carpal tunnel syndrome, and arthritis.

However, some users have complained that the seams of the gloves rip easily and persons with small hands claim that the smallest size is still too large.

Keep in mind that these fingerless gloves are reasonably priced and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If you want a compression glove with high copper content this might be the right fit for you.

These fingerless gloves are made of 88% cotton and 12% spandex and are designed not just for comfort and breathability but to reduce pain and stiffness.

It provides mild compression, focusing on the pressure points in your hand while providing symptomatic relief from swelling, base of thumb pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other problems.

Dr. Frederick’s Gloves are available in sizes, small, medium and large, but the tags on the inside can irritate the skin as noted by several users.

It is, however, one of the cheapest options on our list and is breathable and comfortable, so if you’re on a budget this is a good option to try.

These gloves are designed to provide increased mobility all day and are made with high-quality cotton spandex material.

It promises immediate results, and you can cook dinner, walk your dog, use your computer or run errands while wearing this glove.

Ideal for muscle soreness, swelling, tingling and arthritis pain, the Comfy Brace is woven with moisture wick fabric to help with proper blood circulation and dexterity.

Unlike others on the list who had issues with stitching, this therapeutic glove features ergonomic stitching to ensure durability.

These were designed to fit the contours of your hand and there are three sizes to choose from. 

You’ll also receive an e-book with exercise and lifestyle tips when you purchase your Comfy Brace.

Users have complained about improper sizing and inadequate compression with this glove.

However, Comfy Brace is designed with moisture-wick fabric and doesn’t restrict your mobility, so if you want a compression glove that can be worn during the day while you run errands or perform different tasks, you can give this one a try.

This glove was designed by an orthopaedic surgeon to deliver relief from carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, stiffness and associated aches and pains.

It offers mild compression—improving poor circulation while providing warmth. It is made with a soft, breathable fabric and is comfortable to wear at home or the office, day or night.

The Imak Compression Arthritis gloves are the only one on our list that has received an ‘Ease-of-use Commendation’ from the Arthritis Foundation.

It means that the foundation found that this product can simplify the lives of persons living with arthritis. 

It has also been evaluated by persons with arthritis and tested by experts in the field.

Available in grey and black, and in sizes small, medium and large, Imak’s fingerless gloves can be worn while knitting, gardening or performing other tasks.

There were a few complaints from users that the fingers were too long, and that the sizes run small. 

If you want something simple and easy to use, give these a try.

They were specially designed to make your life easier, and can help to improve circulation and offer relief from your symptoms.

The pink colour might be the first clue that these were designed for women, but the extra-small size option is another clue.

The Pink Lady arthritis gloves were created by medical doctors with first-hand experience in managing arthritis and similar symptoms.

These fingerless gloves can help with sports-related injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis and Dupuytren’s contracture.

You’ll also receive a free ‘doctor written’ handbook which includes treatment options, lifestyle tips to improve your condition, and useful exercises that can aid in your recovery.

Made with spandex and cotton nylon, some users have complained about the thinness of the material, while others have stated that the material stretches out after a few uses.

However, there’s a 100% satisfaction or money-back guarantee with purchase, and 10% of the profit is donated to the Arthritis Foundation.

So if you want a glove made by medical experts while donating to a worthy cause, this may be the one for you.

This glove offers 6 different sizing options, ranging from x-small to xx-large, and is anatomically shaped for even compression and warmth.

It is designed to capture your body’s heat and provide natural relief from the pain of arthritis, and sore joints in your hands and fingers.

It is also clinically proven to increase skin temperature and blood flow.

The Thermoskin gloves offer a strong grip, due to the textured outer layer. 

The inside is lined with Trioxone which provides firm compression to the hand, helps to increase blood flow and offers added comfort.

These gloves tend to run small in size according to some users, and the company does not offer a return policy so pay special attention to the sizing chart before purchase.

However, the gentle heat therapy provided by the Thermoskin gloves might be the perfect solution for your stiff, painful joints.  

This is the only full-finger compression glove on our list, which makes it quite unique—providing support for your entire hand, from fingertips to wrist.

You’ll notice similarities between this product and the Copper Compression Gloves mentioned previously.

Designed by the same company, they guarantee that their arthritis gloves and sleeves contain the highest copper content of all others on the market.

These full-finger gloves allow you to retain adequate range of motion while performing daily chores, working at your computer or doing other activities. 

They are designed for 24-hour comfort while keeping your joints, muscles and tendons warm all day long.

Due to the high-quality fabric, these gloves promise to retain their functions over time, but if you are unsatisfied, your purchase comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.

One complaint from users is that these gloves don’t work with touchscreen devices, while persons with small hands have noted that the smallest size offered is still too large for them.

Nevertheless, if you need a comfortable, full-finger option, with high copper content that you can wear all day long, you can’t go wrong with this one.

The Best Arthritis Gloves: Recommendation

Not only are they reasonably priced, but the Copper Compression Gloves offer the highest copper content in their gloves and sleeves than other related products on the market.  

They contain genuine copper ions — not copper oxide like other products.

With four different sizes to choose from, the Copper Compression Arthritis Gloves will strengthen and support your muscles and joints without restricting your range of motion.

They can help with stiff joints and tendons, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and other related conditions.

Ideal for men and women, these arthritis gloves are made with comfortable, high-quality fabric and promises to retain their function over time.

However, if it does not perform as promised the company offers a 100% money-back guarantee, no questions asked!

Final Note

Whether it’s working at your computer, gardening, or performing household chores, you can rest easy that these gloves will make a great pick if you are searching for arthritis gloves and are not sure which ones to buy.

Before this article ends, you should note that a compression glove is not a cure for arthritis so a doctor must be consulted first. 

These gloves are however recommended by therapists as an alternative mode of treatment for arthritis.

They have been proven to help with swelling, pain, tendonitis, arthritis, carpal tunnel, stiff joints, and associated issues.

Remember to be realistic with your expectations, because chances are you won’t experience immediate relief. 

However, if you are consistent with your use of the product, over time you’ll start to see and feel improvements.