OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of compression gloves in adults with rheumatoid arthritis and hand osteoarthritis. DATA SOURCES: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials identified from Medline, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, OTseeker, the Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect and PubMed from their inceptions to January 2015. REVIEW 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 to 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 to 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.

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