If you have arthritis or know someone who does, you know that doing even simple everyday chores can be difficult. Though Arthritis is common among the elderly, it can also affect any age group and population.
[pullquote]More than 50 million adults in the United States have some type of arthritis making it the leading cause of disability in America.1[/pullquote]
There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related conditions. Arthritis is generally associated with the degeneration of cartilage which acts as a shock absorber in the joint. Degeneration of cartilage causes friction in the joints which leads to pain and inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common type of arthritis that affects the joints in the hands and wrist. Since most of your work is with your hands, it can be quite painful. Gloves provide a safe addition to the management of arthritis of the hands which can be effective to some degree in many patients. There are 3 main types of arthritis gloves.
- Open finger gloves which leave your fingers open for better grip
- Wrist wraps gloves with straps to hold small objects
- Heated gloves which provide thermal insulation
Each type of glove has unique properties that help in certain conditions. So before you go ahead and decide on the right type of gloves, talk to your doctor for a recommendation. Here are 5 ways in which arthritis gloves can help you.
1. Give Relief From Pain
Living with arthritis could mean living with a lifetime of pain. Getting arthritis under control is the first step in treating chronic pain. In the case of Rheumatoid Arthritis, drugs used to treat the disease can slow down the progress of the degeneration but this does not mean the pain can be cured completely. Arthritis gloves can help manage chronic pain and allow patients to perform everyday activities with more ease.2
2. Improve Blood Circulation
Arthritis can cause narrowing and inflammation of the blood vessels constricting the flow of blood. Arthritis compression gloves compress your hands and make them warmer, which results in better blood circulation and decrease in inflammation. They also help reduce swelling and irritation caused during finger and wrist movements.
3. Help You Grip Better
Arthritis of the hands can make it difficult for you to do even simple tasks like working on your laptop. When this is the case, working outdoors in your garden is almost unimaginable. Fortunately, there are gloves that are specially designed to not only help you relieve pain but also get a better grip on things like trowels and forks.
4. Are Easy To Use
While many physical aids can be difficult to get used to, most arthritis gloves are very convenient to use and do not need you to make any significant lifestyle changes. You can either go for fully covered gloves or fingerless ones for better grip. Look for gloves with good quality, skin-friendly inner lining and padding for extra comfort.
5. Have No Side Effects
Pain medications usually have many unwanted side effects like nausea and drowsiness. If the pain is not severe, gloves act as a safe and relatively effective solution to reduce pain. They are convenient and do not impact your body functions.
Arthritis gloves help people with arthritis perform regular activities without letting their disease come in the way of living a fuller life. Consult with your doctor and do your research on all the different options available before you choose the right one.
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