The Science Behind Compression Therapy: How it Works for Arthritis

Compression therapy. Here at Grace and Able, it’s our passion. It’s incredible how much difference a simple pair of compression gloves can make for someone living with arthritis. If you deal with any type of joint pain, you probably know a little bit about it already - but what exactly IS compression therapy and how does it affect the body?

Let’s explore the science together.

What Is Compression Therapy?

Compression therapy is a common arthritis treatment that creates pressure by gently squeezing sore or stiff joints. If you’ve ever worn a pair of flight socks, you’ve already dipped your toe in the world of compression therapy! There are plenty of different kinds of compression garments, including garments for burn victims, varicose veins, and much more, but we’ll be focussing on therapy for arthritis and chronic joint pain.

Skip straight to the science

How Compression Therapy Works

Compression therapy is simple to use. All you need to do is put on specially made, tight-fitting garments on the affected area, and you’re good to go. As they apply even pressure to the area, blood flow increases. Better blood flow reduces inflammation and in turn, helps with pain and swelling. It’s not all about circulation though - compression therapy can also help to stabilise and support joints, as well as pushing out any unwanted fluid and creating pain-busting heat retention.

Types Of Compression Therapy For Arthritis

There are so many types of compression therapy products out there, that it can feel a little overwhelming to pick out your first garment. Different types of compression therapy will work for different people, and there’s no one-size-fits-all all! You might even wear different garments for different activities or times of day. It’s important to look into a range of options so you can choose one that meets your exact needs.

Compression Gloves

Compression gloves are just that - gloves that offer compression specifically for your hands and fingers. These are great for more localised pain and fingerless options are perfect for extra support when crafting, texting, and anything that involves those tricky finger movements.  Check out our range of compression gloves here.

Compression Sleeves

If you have wider-spread pain that reaches your elbows and/or wrists, compression sleeves are a great option. They look a little like arm warmers, only tighter and made of stretchy materials such as nylon. Popular with athletes due to their recovery-enhancing properties, you can find options with or without handpieces, depending on your needs.

Compression Tape

Joint support tape (also known as K-tape or Kinesiology Tape) can help manage arthritis and chronic pain by providing gentle compression and stability to affected areas. It supports joints without limiting movement, helping to reduce strain and discomfort throughout the day. Designed to improve circulation and ease stiffness, this breathable, flexible tape offers a drug-free way to stay active and comfortable.

How Compression Therapy Helps With Arthritis

For the 21% of US adults living from arthritis, compression therapy can work wonders as part of a multidisciplinary approach alongside medication, exercise, and occasionally surgery. Arthritis creates inflammation in your joints and, depending on the type of arthritis you have, can wear away connective tissues, create extra fluids in your joints, and even cause tiny bone or crystal growths. Compression therapy benefits include:

• Reduce swelling by pushing out fluids
• Increase circulation
• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Support weakened joints
• Provide stability when doing daily activities
• Apply gentle heat to sore joints

 

The Science Behind Compression Therapy: How It Works For Arthritis

 

The Science Behind Compression Therapy

When we apply pressure to a part of our bodies, it increases the blood flow in the area. This might sound a bit counterintuitive - surely if we squeeze a vein, we’d be blocking the blood flow, right? Not quite - this pressure helps the blood to go back up to the heart, so it can continue pumping that fabulous, oxygen-rich blood back to the affected area which helps battle inflammation and promote healing. 

This extra blood flow keeps our joints nice and warm. Those chilly fingers we get during a flare-up are caused by poor circulation, which is massively improved with compression therapy. Not only that, but heat is also a great way to fight inflammation. Just like how hot water bottles help tummy cramps, the heat kept in by your compression garments helps tackle pain in your joints.

It’s not just blood that gets squeezed out either. People with arthritis are prone to joint effusion, which is when too much fluid builds up around the joint and causes swelling, stiffness, pain, redness and warmth in the skin. It makes the outer layer of our joints that helps them slip around nicely, known as the synovium, mushy. This makes moving the joint trickier and can stop us from doing our usual activities. When we talk about flare-ups, we’re usually talking about joint effusion.

With compression garments, this fluid gets squeezed out and evenly distributed, preventing it from collecting in one area and keeping swelling at bay. This can help prevent flare-ups before they hit, or soothe them when they do.

As well as all this squeezing, compression garments help stabilise and support our joints. When our joints are swollen and sore, we’re not moving them as much. On top of this, certain types of arthritis eat away at your cartilage, which means your tendons and ligaments have to work extra hard to keep you moving. When it’s all mixed together, this can cause our muscles to waste away, making our joints weaker and affecting our strength. 

Compression garments keep our joints stable and avoid any uncomfortable movements as we use them. They enhance something called proprioceptive feedback, which is a sensory feedback into our nervous system that makes us more aware of the way our joints sit and move, helping keep them stable and nicely coordinated. 

Lastly, compression can confuse our pain signals. You know when you get a headache and rub your temples to feel better? Compression therapy works just like that - by creating competing sensory input, our brains get all mixed up and confuse the pain signals, which lessens them and therefore, lessens the pain from arthritis.

Why Compression Gloves Work For Rheumatoid Arthritis

There are more than 100 types of arthritis, with the two most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an auto-immune condition, where our immune system attacks healthy tissues by mistake. For those with RA, the body goes for the cells that line the joints, going on to damage joints, nearby bones, and cartilage as they release harmful chemicals. When your joints become inflamed, you’ll experience pain, swelling, stiffness, and hot, tender skin. 

The hands and fingers are usually the first to be affected, so compression gloves are incredibly helpful in managing your condition. The American College of Rheumatology recommends compression therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis as part of their wider treatment plan. They’ll help with swelling and pain whilst supporting you to use your hands and fingers and maintain your independence, meaning you can still do things like dressing yourself and taking part in your favourite hobbies.

 

Is Compression Therapy Just For Arthritis?

Nope! Compression therapy is awesome for plenty of conditions that affect your joints. People with repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) like carpal tunnel and trigger finger, connective tissue disorders such as EDS, and other chronic joint pain conditions can all benefit from the stability and pain relief that hand compression gloves have to offer. Even those without any conditions who require extra joint support such as weightlifters and golfers use compression garments to aid recovery and prevent injuries. 

 

Compression Therapy For Menopause

Did you know women are more prone to joint pain than men? This is due in part to estrogen, the female sex hormone. When we go through the menopause, our estrogen levels take a huge dip, which decreases the amount of healthy cartilage and joint lubrication, making our joints stiff and uncomfortable. Compression garments can help menopausal women by:

• Supporting joints
• Reducing inflammation
• Soothing sore joints
• Allowing for more controlled mobility
• Preventing swelling

 

Are There Any Risks Or Side Effects To Compression Therapy?

Compression therapy is generally pretty safe, but nothing is ever 100% risk-free. Side effects can include skin irritation, discomfort, bacterial or fungal infections, and, very rarely, nerve or soft tissue damage. It is important to care for your compression garments, by washing them regularly and allowing them to completely air dry. If you experience any issues after using compression garments, contact your doctor straight away and stop using them until advised otherwise.

 

Faqs For Compression Therapy

Q: What does compression therapy do?

A: Compression therapy gently squeezes the affected area, helping reduce pain and inflammation.

Q: Where can I find compression garments?

A: You can find compression garments in many drugstores, pharmacies, and online retailers. At Grace And Able, we sell a range of super-soft compression gloves, braces, and care kits, designed to be comfy and cute at the same time!

Q: What are compression garments made of?

A: Compression garments can be made of all sorts of things. Stretchy materials like Lycra and Nylon are very popular, but they vary between brands and styles. Grace & Able uses cotton, polyester, and spandex in our gloves, and for extra comfort we offer the Comfy Cotton Compression gloves which use 88% cotton,  to create a super-soft feeling and maximum comfort.

Q: Can I wear compression garments to sleep?

A: Absolutely. We recommend starting out wearing them in the day to check for any side effects, but you can easily wear them to bed to ward off the dreaded nighttime pains if you like!

Q: Can I still knit in my compression gloves?

A: Of course you can! Compression gloves make fiddly tasks like knitting, crocheting, texting, and typing much easier, meaning you can carry on your favourite hobbies even during a flare-up.

Q: Where can I find cute compression garments?

A: We’ll admit, some of the compression garments on the market aren’t giving much in the way of aesthetics. Luckily, we stock pretty compression gloves and brace covers designed for compliments - you can even get multiple pairs to match your outfits!

 

Shop Arthritis Compression Gloves & Wrist Braces

If you’re looking to start your compression therapy journey, why not try our range of braces and compression gloves? Designed for comfort and compliments, they’re the perfect way to soothe pain and inflammation whilst still looking fantastic. Find your fit here.