This is a collaborative study with 11 Occupational Therapy (OT) departments in North-West England. The OTs provide arthritis gloves to 25% of out-patients with inflammatory, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. The pressure applied by the glove(s) may help relieve hand pain, swelling and stiffness. People find they help but there is little research testing this. Of the five small studies published: two found little or no benefit; one found similar effects from arthritis and ordinary thermal gloves; two found some benefits. Testing if gloves work helps therapists and patients judge if they will help.