Do you suffer with pain in your hands whilst you’re crafting?
If you’re anything like me and many of my crafting friends, then you’ll know how long term crafting can cause pain in your hands. I just love to crochet, and it’s something I’ve been doing for most of my life, but as I got older I found that I could only crochet for short periods of time because of the pain it caused in my fingers and wrists.
I certainly didn’t want to have to give up my crochet, so I started looking for the best solution for me to be able to carry on doing something I love, and in my extensive search, one of the things I tested was compression gloves.
Do compression gloves really work? Yes, they work really well because they actually hug the hands and help with the blood flow around the fingers and I could actually feel the circulation improving. As the blood is able to flow around the hands and finger joints it improves circulation, the hands warm up and no longer feel slow and sluggish.
How Do Compression gloves Work?
Have you ever had a flare up of arthritis in your finger joints and found yourself covering the joint with the other hand to put just a little bit of pressure on the joint because it gives a few moments of comfort and relief from the pain?
Well compression gloves work in a very similar way, as the name would suggest, they put just a little bit of pressure on your fingers and joints giving that bit of relief from the pain. The compression can also help to reduce the swelling and can help with joint stiffness too whilst improving blood circulation.
I know my hands often feel very achy and become slow and sluggish, sometimes cramping up which makes crafting, and crochet in particular very difficult. When I wear my compression gloves the blood circulation starts to improve and my hands get warmer which alleviates all these problems.
Will Compression Gloves Help Me To Crochet With Arthritis?
I was very concerned a few years back when I started showing signs of having arthritis in my hands because I really thought I was going to have to give up doing my beloved crochet. So I set about doing some research into the subject to make sure I wasn’t doing more harm by continuing to crochet… I was very pleased to discover that it is recommended that you do continue to crochet (or whatever craft you do) as it will help to keep your joints mobile for longer.
So with the help of my compression gloves I am able to carry on with my crochet.
Is It Difficult To Crochet Wearing compression Gloves?
This is one of the questions I was asking myself when I decided to buy my compression gloves… I decided the best way to find out was to just buy some and give it a go. I obviously can only speak for myself here, but for me, it didn’t take long to get used to wearing them and once I did my crochet speed wasn’t affected at all.
Copper Compression Gloves
Copper compression gloves have the added benefit of having copper infused fibres. Whilst there is no scientific evidence that proves beyond doubt that copper is beneficial in the relief it gives to arthritis sufferers, there are many thousands of people who swear it has made a huge difference in relieving some of the pain and discomfort they have to endure once they start wearing copper infused compression gloves.
The makers of these popular compression gloves on Amazon claim…
Copper Compression products have the highest copper content. Rather than spraying fabrics with copper, we infuse it directly into the nylon fibers. Our products are constructed with 85% copper-infused nylon. This innovative approach brings you maximum hygienic benefits, enhanced protection and a superior experience.
Copper Compression products utilize genuine copper ions (Cu+ and Cu++) rather than copper oxide (Cu2O). This is an important distinction because it means that we not only have the highest copper content… we also utilize the HIGHEST QUALITY copper. We believe that if you are buying copper-infused products that you should get actual top grade copper at the highest copper content available.
- 85% copper-infused nylon (#1 highest copper content).
- Compression + stability support your body during all activities.
- 4-Way stretch construction enhances your movements while providing the flexibility to flow freely.
- Moisture wicking materials that dry fast, keeping you cool and comfortable.
- Copper-Infused fibers keep you stink-free with anti-odor technology.
- Effective support for arthritis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, typing, texting, purlicue pain and repetitive stress injuries.
- Open finger design allows you to touch and grip freely.
- Inner, non-slip grip helps to maintain consistent pressure.
- Continuous compression helps to soothe overworked muscles.
- Wear overnight to wake up with refreshed and energized hands.
Can I Wear Compression Gloves For Long Periods Of Time?
Yes, you can certainly wear compression gloves for a long period of time, you will get the most benefit from wearing them for longer periods rather than just an hour or two at a time.
Can I Wear Compression Gloves In Bed?
Absolutely you can wear your compression gloves in bed! I know from experience how my aching hands can prevent me from getting a good nights sleep, so wearing my gloves in bed certainly helps with that. It’s recommended that you wear them for 8 hours, which is on average how many hours we spend in bed.
When I wear mine overnight, it not only helps me to sleep better, but when I wake up my hands are no longer puffy and achy.
How To Make Sure Your Gloves Are The Right Size
When you choose the type and brand of compression glove that you want, the manufacturer should have a hand measuring guide that you can refer to… For mine, I had to measure around my hand at the knuckles.
You will need them to be tight enough that they give support, but not so tight that they restrict your circulation.
Stop using them if you experience any of the following symptoms;
- Pins and needles
- Numbness
- Discolouration in the finger tips
- If you have an allergic reaction
- If your skin becomes irritated
Other Benefits From Wearing Compression Gloves
I’ve been wearing my compression gloves for a few months now and I’m really seeing some great benefits from wearing them. I work on the computer a lot as part of my job, and I would often have really cold hands, even if the room was warm, that would make it difficult for me to type because my hands would feel very heavy and slow. Now I wear my gloves every time I’m working on the computer and I just don’t have that problem anymore.
I thought my hands would become too warm when wearing them in the summer months, but that wasn’t the case at all, the gloves just seem to regulate the temperature and have been comfortable to wear all year round.
In Conclusion
I couldn’t be happier with my compression gloves, and I don’t say this lightly, but they really have changed my life! As an avid crafter, it means I am now able to spend more time crafting and doing the things I love to do as I no longer have to put down the crochet hook because my joints have become too painful, or because my hands feel so slow and heavy to continue.
I don’t have to wear them all the time when I’m crafting, I find that because I wear them most nights, and at other times in the day, I don’t get so much pain and can do crafts without wearing them too.
I do have several pairs now as obviously they do get dirty and need to be washed, but it’s not a problem to wash them, just follow the manufacturers instructions… as a general rule, I wash them in non biological detergent on in warm water, then place them on a flat surface to dry
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