Looking for a hand massager for arthritis in hands

Anjan
Anjan Applicant Posts: 2
edited 20. Aug 2025, 13:38 in Living with arthritis

Hello everyone!

My hands have been feeling stiff and sore lately, and I am thinking about trying a hand massager. There seem to be so many types like glove-style with heat, small handheld vibration ones, or even simple rollers. I am not sure what actually works best for arthritis. Has anyone here found a particular type or brand that really helps with pain or stiffness? Does heat make much difference, and was it worth the price? I would love to hear your experiences and recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

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Comments

  • MaryL44
    MaryL44 Moderator Posts: 219

    Hello @Anjan and welcome to the Community. Welcome to our friendly group.

    I have some arthritis in my hands but I don't have any experience of massagers! I'm sure members of our community will respond with their experiences. Personally, I do a lot of hand exercises and find this helps. I also have some hand therapy squeezy balls that are very good.

    Our website is a mine of information so do look at it. Have a look at this for some hand exercises:

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/exercising-with-arthritis/exercises-for-healthy-joints/exercises-for-the-fingers-hands-and-wrists/

    Also, our community members will have vast experience so keep checking back here for their responses.

    Please keep posting now you are here and let us know how you are getting on.

    Best wishes

    Mary

    Need more help - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • Trish9556
    Trish9556 Member Posts: 920

    Hi @Anjan

    I have never used a hand massager with any of my OA.

    There are multiple things that you can try, all of which have helped me.

    1. Hot Hands, or similar, available as a pack of two in most shops - they are air activated little packs of magic that heat up, warm your hands and work for about 12 hours. Stick them in the freezer afterwards and you have hand sized cold packs.
    2. Warm Wax - I investigated in a warm wax machine earlier this year for my hand and it feels wonderful. Paraffin wax is heated to a specific temperature, plunge your hand in and out until coated, wrap and keep on until your hand has cooled.
    3. Hot and cold therapies are particularly good for hands, anything can be used from plunging hands into warm water and then into cold and back again. Alternating between the two increases blood flow and helps with pain/stiffness.
    4. Therapy Balls - little egg shaped balls which are perfect hand therapy and come in different strengths. Sit ands squeeze whilst watching tv.
    5. Therapy Putty - again, comes in different strengths - start with the softest one and work up. All you need to do is play with it - pulling, sqeezing, stretching, as a child would with play doh.

    Personally I think a hand massager would give more discomfort than any benefit but if that's what you want to try, purchase one from an online selling shop so you can return it easily if you don't get on withi it. All the things listed above, with the exception of the warm wax machine, were cheap and they work. If you get on with the hot hands they are available in boxes in online selling shops and you can usually get them a lot cheaper in bulk.

    Trish

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