Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A hand compression glove is a close-fitting, stretch fabric glove that applies gentle, even pressure to the hand. Hand therapy teams and people buying support gloves use it to control swelling or support joints. Read this page to see what the gloves are made of, how two published sizing charts differ, and what an NHS hand therapy leaflet says about wearing and caring for them.
What is a hand compression glove?
A compression glove is a fitted glove that helps to control or reduce swelling, support joints, or ease painful joints, according to the hand therapy leaflet from St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (reference THE_HTCG_02, published January 2020, review date January 2022). The same leaflet says the compression works in two ways: for swelling, gentle compression helps to push excess fluid out of the hand; for joint pain, the glove provides support, compression and warmth to the joints.
Who uses it: patients under the care of a hand therapy team, and buyers choosing a retail support glove. Clinic staff who stock or issue gloves need the same product facts covered below. Related products on CASRAI include the elastic bandage, TED hose and self-adherent wrap.
How is a compression glove built?
The St George’s leaflet says gloves used in hospital are made of nylon and Lycra and are used mainly to control and reduce swelling. Gloves bought for joint pain are made from a range of materials such as cotton, Lycra and neoprene. The leaflet also says the seams should sit on the outside of the glove so there is not too much pressure on the hand.
A manufacturer example: the Mueller Sports Medicine Compression Glove (item 6905) lists its composition as nylon 58%, polyester 21% and spandex 21%, with an adjustable wrist strap. Its product page lists it as not sterile, not antimicrobial and bilateral (fits either hand), and gives the application as sliding the hand into the glove and wrapping the wrist strap. This is one brand’s specification, not a rule for all gloves.
Types and variants
| Type | Typical use | Key difference | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital swelling glove | Control and reduce swelling | Nylon and Lycra | St George’s leaflet |
| Retail joint-support glove | Joint support and comfort | Cotton, Lycra, neoprene and other materials; also described as providing warmth | St George’s leaflet |
| Strap-style glove (one example) | Compression and support for weak or aching hands and wrists | Nylon/polyester/spandex fabric with an adjustable wrist strap | Mueller item 6905 product page |
Sizes and specifications that matter
There is no single sizing standard. The two charts below measure different places on the hand, so their numbers cannot be compared directly. Use the chart supplied by the maker of the exact glove.
| Chart | Where to measure | Sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis UK shop compression gloves size chart | Around the knuckles at the widest point of the hand | Extra small 5 in / 13 cm; small 6 in / 15 cm; medium 7 in / 18 cm; large 8 in / 20 cm; extra large 9 in / 22 cm |
| Mueller Sports Medicine item 6905 | Around the hand above the thumb | SM 6.5-7.5 in (16-19 cm); MD 7.5-8.5 in (19-21 cm); LG 8.5-9.5 in (21-24 cm) |
How to choose
- Measure the way the maker says. The two charts above use different measuring points, so a measurement taken for one chart does not fit the other.
- Aim for snug, not tight. The St George’s leaflet says the gloves should feel snug but not too tight; the Arthritis UK chart describes the aim as a snug fit with gentle compression.
- Between two sizes. The Arthritis UK chart advises sizing down for its own sizes. Check what your glove’s maker says.
- Check the product page for sterile and antimicrobial status. The Mueller page states both as “No”; other makers publish their own details.
Safe use and handling basics
These points come from the St George’s hand therapy leaflet and describe general use for that service’s patients, not individual advice.
- Put the gloves on with the seams on the outside.
- Wear them for short periods at first. The leaflet suggests starting with daytime wear to get used to them and to check they have no harmful effects.
- Do not wear them all through the day (24 hours), as this would be bad for skin hygiene.
- Make sure hands are completely dry after washing before putting the gloves on again.
- Do not wear them while driving, as you may not be able to grip.
- Remove and stop using the gloves and contact the hand therapist for numbness, pins and needles, itchy skin, redness or increased swelling (which could be an allergic reaction), skin irritation, or disturbed sleep.
Care
Gloves normally come with care instructions, and the leaflet’s general guidance is to machine wash on a delicate cycle or hand wash, use non-biological washing powder, avoid fabric conditioner, dry them flat, and not tumble dry them or leave them on a direct heat source such as a radiator. The Mueller 6905 instructions are stricter: hand wash cold with mild detergent, do not bleach, line dry, do not iron, do not dry clean. Follow the instructions for your own glove.
Common mistakes
- Wearing the gloves around the clock, which the leaflet warns against.
- Using one brand’s size chart for another brand’s glove.
- Tumble drying or drying on a radiator.
- Ignoring numbness, pins and needles, redness or skin irritation instead of stopping and contacting the therapist.
- Putting damp hands into the glove.
For clinic stock lists that include supports and wraps, see the physical therapy clinic supply checklist; for rigid support products, see what a splint is.
FAQ
What does a hand compression glove do?
According to the St George’s hand therapy leaflet, it helps to control or reduce swelling and to support joints. For swelling, gentle compression helps push excess fluid out of the hand.
What are compression gloves made of?
Hospital gloves for swelling are made of nylon and Lycra; retail joint-support gloves use materials such as cotton, Lycra and neoprene. One published example is 58% nylon, 21% polyester and 21% spandex.
How do I measure for a compression glove?
Follow the maker’s chart. One supplier measures around the knuckles at the widest point of the hand; another measures around the hand above the thumb.
How long can a compression glove be worn?
The St George’s leaflet says not to wear the gloves all through the day (24 hours), and to build up from short periods of daytime wear.
How should a compression glove be washed?
Follow the care label. General guidance in the leaflet is a delicate machine cycle or hand wash, non-biological powder, no fabric conditioner, and drying flat away from direct heat.
Sources
- St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, “Compression Gloves” patient leaflet, ref. THE_HTCG_02, published January 2020, review date January 2022: https://www.stgeorges.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Compression-gloves.pdf (checked 2026-10-30).
- Mueller Sports Medicine, Compression Glove item 6905 product page: https://www.muellersportsmed.com/b2c-us/en/Open-Catalogue/By-Body-Part/Hand-Support-%26-Thumb-Stabilizer-Braces/Compression-Glove/p/6905 (checked 2026-10-30).
- Arthritis UK shop, compression gloves size chart: https://shop.arthritis-uk.org/pages/compression-gloves-size-chart (checked 2026-10-30).
