Heated Gloves for Arthritis Pain

Arthritis can be a debilitating disease that makes work impossible for those who suffer from the disease. Traditional treatments include application of heat and pain killers. The invention of heated gloves helps to reduce the swelling of infected joints and can eliminate the need for strong pain killers.

Background

• Arthritis is second only to heart disease in diseases that cause work disability, according to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Function

• Heated gloves are powered by batteries. These batteries can be either rechargeable lithium batteries or alkaline AA. The temperature of heated gloves can be as low as 95 or reach as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Effects

• The heat of the gloves reduces the inflammation in the joints of the hands, which in turn causes a reduction in swelling of the joints. The reduction in inflammation and swelling also reduces the pain caused by arthritis.

Benefits

• Heated gloves can be worn at any time during the day or night. This allows for a way of treating arthritis at any time, without disrupting the patient's schedule. It also prevents the need to take strong pain killers.

Considerations

• Heated gloves allow for a greater mobility of affected ligaments and joints in the hands. Applying heat to fingers affected by arthritis allows for greater mobility by allowing for exercising of the joints. Continual movement of arthritic joints is recommended in order to slow the effects of arthritis.

Limitations

• Since the gloves utilize batteries, care should be taken when using them. Chores that involve water, for example should not be performed while wearing the gloves.