Ease of Use: IMAK SmartGlove

    

The Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use Commendation recognizes products proven to make life easier for people who have arthritis and other physical limitations. These products are independently tested by experts and evaluated by people with arthritis. I have been asked to review a number of Ease-of-Use products during May, Arthritis Awareness Month in the US. My mother, who has osteoarthritis in her hands, is helping by testing some of these products, as well. 

The SmartGlove by IMAK is designed to offer "carpal tunnel support," as well as easing hand fatigue, tendinitis and arthritis. According to the box, it is designed by an orthopedic surgeon. The glove comes oriented to fit your right hand, but can be turned inside out to be used for the left hand. There is a built-in flexible support splint running along the top of the glove from knuckles to wrist and something called "massaging ErgoBeads" located where your carpal tunnel area is. ErgoBeads are “exceptionally smooth plastic beads … that … creates a massaging effect to help increase blood circulation, promoting healthy muscle tissue." You can freeze the glove, cooling down the beads which is designed to provide "maximum relief" (I assume relief of pain).

To me, this seems like a fabulous idea. The other reviewers in the Ease of Use program have all tried it and it's come back with excellent reviews. I’ve been following them on Twitter where Felicia Fibro mentions the SmartGlove as providing relief for aching wrists when typing, although it took her a little while to get used to working while wearing the glove. @Cezmaye used it "to get through finals - really reduce swelling."

Again, I relied on my mother for the product testing. My wrists fused a long time ago and therefore haven't given me much trouble - it's one of those moments where severe deformity (in this case immobility) is working for me! Also, thanks to Humira, I don't usually have any swelling. My mother, on the other hand, has osteoarthritis in her hands and have had carpal tunnel problems (including surgery), so she was a perfect candidate.

Before I passed the glove on to my mother, I tried it on myself. Despite getting a medium (where I would need a size small), I couldn't put it on myself. It's tight to put on, which makes sense because it's supposed to provide support and a bit of compression. However, I have very little strength in my hands and arms and couldn't pull it on. Of course, I can't put on a pair of knitted store-bought gloves if the cuff is knit tightly, either, which should tell you something about how little strength I have.

 

My mother also had a bit of difficulty pulling it on, but did manage. Depending on how much pain you have in your fingers, this might be a bit of a barrier to using the glove. Unfortunately, the rest of her review was fairly negative. She felt it was uncomfortable, made it difficult to type and impossible to use a mouse. She kept it on for an hour and found that it was so tight around her arm that her hand ended up falling asleep! As well, the narrow piece of fabric between her thumb and the rest of the hand bothered her a lot. However, we have a theory that her fibromyalgia was to blame. It makes her very sensitive to pressure and it quickly moves from a sense of pressure into a perception of pain when things are too tight.

I think this is one of those cars that can work great for some and not so great for others. Several other reviewers had a very positive reaction, so I think it's worth looking into. If you have problems with wrist pain or carpal tunnel issues, give it a try. It might do the trick for you.

This was my last product review for Ease of Use program (at least for this go around). I’d like to thank The Address Foundation for getting me this opportunity to try out some pretty nifty products. Both I and my co-reviewer had a lot of fun. 

Other bloggers involved in reviewing Ease-of-Use products are Felicia Fibro, Peachy Pains and Dog in the Dorm: Life with Holden.