Do Tommie Copper products work?

But this is due to the compression, not the copper.

This puts copper directly at the site of pain or injury.

Woman holding her knee in pain on couch

Sasha_Suzi / Getty Images

There is support for the benefits of compression, however.

Deceptive Advertising

In the United States, it’s illegal to advertise products with unsubstantiated medical claims.

Tommie Copper has been penalized for making false claims about the benefits of it’s copper-infused fabric.

What Research Says About Copper

Researchers have long studied the effects of copper oninflammatory conditions.

The idea that they might help comes from a pair of mid-19th century hypotheses.

The first idea is that arthritis involves a copper deficiency.

Some research supports this.

Claims that they work may be due to the placebo effect.

It may also be that people tend to try new “treatments” when their symptoms are especially bad.

When they happen to improve on their own, it’s easy to conclude that the new approach worked.

Compression has long-established medical uses.

It’s known to ease swelling by restricting blood flow and fluid build-up.Less swelling generally means less pain.

A lot of people use products like arthritis compression gloves to help with symptom management.

Compression bandages are commonly used in first aid and compression is part of theR.I.C.E.

Compression may not be recommended in some situations.

A single pair of men’s ankle-length compression socks goes for almost $25.

You may be able to find comparable compression garments for significantly less.

Finding Your Size

Size charts are available on the Tommie Copper website.

Fit is important, as a loose garment can’t provide adequate compression.

It’s important to note that the time starts the day your orderships, not the day it arrives.

Summary

Tommie Copper offers compression garments made from copper-infused fabric.

Research has shown that copper against the skin isineffective for treating arthritis symptoms.

However, they’re much more expensive than some similar products.

Federal Trade Commission.Tommie Copper to pay $1.35 million to settle FTC deceptive advertising charges.

Strecker D, Mierzecki A, Radomska K.Copper levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Ann Agric Environ Med.

2013;20(2):312-316.

Arthritis Foundation.Magnets, copper don’t ease arthritis pain.

2013;8(9):e71529.

2012;47(4):435-443. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-47.4.14