Sports glove for arthritic thumb carpometacarpal joint

Abstract

A glove for reducing lateral subluxation of the first carpometacarpal joint that includes a glove body, and a strap portion carried by the glove body. The strap portion extends from a proximal end portion of the glove, and has a length sufficient to allow the strap to be looped around the thumb, to provide dorsal-radial tension on the thumb near the distal end of the first metacarpal in order to reduce lateral subluxation at the first carpometacarpal joint. An attachment element is also provided for securing a distal end of the strap portion to a mutually engaging attachment element secured to the glove body.

1 . A glove for reducing lateral subluxation at the first carpometacarpal joint, the glove comprising:
 a) a glove body;   b) a strap portion carried by the glove body, the strap portion extending from a proximal end portion of the glove body, having a length sufficient to allow the strap to be looped around the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) to extend the thumb metacarpal and serve as a dorsal-radial tension band on the thumb near the distal end of the first metacarpal to reduce lateral subluxation at the first carpometacarpal joint; and   c) an attachment element for securing a distal end of the strap portion to a mutually engaging attachment element secured to the glove body.   
   
   
       2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the strap portion is integrally formed with the glove body. 
   
   
       3 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the strap portion is separately formed from the glove body, a proximal end of the strap being permanently attached to the glove body. 
   
   
       4 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the strap portion is separately formed from the glove body, a proximal end of the strap being removably attached to the glove body. 
   
   
       5 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the strap portion is formed of an elastic material. 
   
   
       6 . The glove of  claim 5 , wherein the strap portion is formed of rubber. 
   
   
       7 . The glove of  claim 6 , wherein the strap portion is formed of polychloroprene. 
   
   
       8 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the strap portion is formed of leather. 
   
   
       9 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element is a buckle secured to the glove body for engaging a distal end portion of the strap. 
   
   
       10 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element is a snap, a portion of the snap being provided on the glove body, and a second portion of the snap for engaging the first portion thereof, being provided on in the distal end portion of the strap. 
   
   
       11 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment element includes hook-and-loop fastening material, a first portion of the hook-and-loop fastening material being provided on the glove, and a second portion of the hook-and-loop fastening material being provided on a distal end portion of the strap.