title: The effects of compression gloves on hand symptoms and hand function in rheumatoid arthritis and hand osteoarthritis: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the effects of compression gloves in adults with rheumatoid arthritis and hand osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of randomized controlled trials identified from MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, OT Seeker, The Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and PubMed from their inceptions to January 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methodological quality of identified trials was evaluated using the PEDro scale by three independent assessors. Effects were summarized descriptively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four trials (n=8-24; total n=74), comparing night wear of full-length finger compression gloves with placebo gloves, were assessed. Three were of moderate (PEDro score 4-5) and one low (score 3) methodological quality. Effect sizes or standardized mean differences could not be calculated to compare trials due to poor data reporting. In rheumatoid arthritis, finger joint swelling was significantly reduced, but results for pain and stiffness were inconclusive and no differences in grip strength and dexterity were identified. One study reported similar effects in pain, stiffness and finger joint swelling from both compression and thermal placebo gloves. Only one study evaluated gloves in hand osteoarthritis (n=5) with no differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All the trials identified were small with a high risk of Type I and II errors. Evidence for the effectiveness of compression gloves worn at night is inconclusive in rheumatoid arthritis and hand osteoarthritis.
authors: Centre for Health Sciences Research, University of Salford, Salford, UK a.hammond@salford.ac.uk.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Hammond
authors: Centre for Health Sciences Research, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
authors: Vivienne
authors: V
authors: Jones
authors: Centre for Health Sciences Research, University of Salford, Salford, UK.
authors: Yeliz
authors: Y
authors: Prior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy*; D058128:Compression Bandages; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Compression gloves; hand; occupational therapy; osteoarthritis; rehabilitation; rheumatoid arthritis