6 Best Therapy Putties For Arthritis Relief That OTs Recommend

That stubborn jar lid, the key that won’t quite turn, or the ache after an afternoon of gardening—these are small frustrations that speak to a larger goal: maintaining capable, confident hands. As we plan for long-term independence at home, the strength and dexterity of our hands play a surprisingly central role. Therapy putty is a simple, effective tool occupational therapists have long recommended to manage the stiffness of arthritis and preserve the function that matters most.

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Why OTs Recommend Putty for Arthritic Hands

Occupational therapists (OTs) focus on function. We look at the everyday tasks that give life meaning and work to maintain a person’s ability to perform them. For hands affected by arthritis, therapy putty is a foundational tool because it provides gentle, adaptable, and low-impact resistance.

Unlike a rigid hand gripper, putty conforms perfectly to your grip, ensuring that pressure is distributed evenly across the joints. This minimizes the risk of stressing a single, painful joint. The simple act of warming and squeezing the putty also increases blood flow and flexibility in the hands, helping to ease morning stiffness and prepare them for the day’s activities.

Furthermore, putty is incredibly versatile. You can squeeze it for grip strength, pinch it to work on fine motor control for buttoning a shirt, or stretch it to strengthen finger extensor muscles. This range of motion is crucial for building the balanced strength needed for everything from holding a coffee mug securely to turning a doorknob with ease.

TheraPutty: The Trusted Standard in Hand Therapy

When you walk into nearly any rehabilitation clinic, you are likely to see containers of TheraPutty. For decades, this brand has been the gold standard, trusted by OTs and physical therapists for its consistent quality and predictable performance. Its reputation is built on reliability.

TheraPutty is known for its non-bleeding colors and a silicone-based formula that resists hardening or drying out over time. This durability means your investment lasts. The product uses the industry-standard color progression for resistance levels, making it simple to follow a therapist’s recommendation or track your own progress as you move from a softer to a firmer putty.

The texture is smooth and uniform, which is an important consideration for sensitive hands. While it is a superior product, it’s worth noting that its silicone base can leave a faint residue on porous surfaces. For this reason, it’s always best to use it in a designated area and store it in its sealed container.

CanDo Theraputty for Progressive Resistance

CanDo is another top-tier brand frequently used in clinical settings, offering a product that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the established leaders. Its primary advantage lies in the sheer breadth of its resistance offerings. This makes it an excellent choice for individuals who need a very specific or gradual progression in their strengthening program.

Where most brands offer four or five standard levels, CanDo often provides up to eight, from "xx-soft" to "x-firm." This granularity is ideal for managing the fluctuating nature of arthritis. On a day with more pain and stiffness, you can use a super-soft putty, while on a good day, you can challenge yourself with a slightly firmer grade without making a huge leap in resistance.

This ability to fine-tune your exercises helps prevent strain and encourages consistency. CanDo putty is also gluten, casein, and latex-free, making it a safe choice for users with sensitivities. Its non-oily texture and non-bleeding colors ensure a clean, hassle-free experience.

Vive Therapy Putty Set for Full-Range Rehab

For those just starting with hand therapy at home, the Vive Therapy Putty Set offers an intelligent and cost-effective solution. Rather than requiring you to guess which single resistance level is right for you, Vive packages four distinct levels together. This immediately provides the versatility you need for a comprehensive routine.

A set typically includes soft, medium, firm, and extra-firm putties, each in its own container. This allows you to use the softest putty for gentle warm-up exercises and the firmer putties for building strength, all in the same session. It also accommodates for fluctuations in pain and stiffness; you can simply choose the putty that feels best on any given day.

This all-in-one approach removes the guesswork and provides excellent value. For less than the cost of buying several individual containers from other brands, you get a full spectrum of resistance. It’s a practical entry point that empowers you to tailor your exercises to your specific needs from day one.

Rolyan Therapy Putty: The Latex-Free Option

In any home modification or health-related choice, safety comes first. For individuals with a latex allergy, this is not a minor detail—it’s a critical requirement. Rolyan Therapy Putty distinguishes itself by being a premier, clinical-grade putty that is guaranteed latex-free.

This provides essential peace of mind, eliminating the risk of an allergic reaction that could cause skin irritation or more severe symptoms. Beyond this crucial feature, Rolyan is a high-quality product that performs exceptionally well. It maintains its consistency over repeated use and is known for not leaving any residue or clinging to skin.

Like other professional-grade putties, it follows the standard color-coding for resistance, so it’s easy to integrate into an existing therapy plan. While many putties are now latex-free, Rolyan has built its reputation on this guarantee, making it the go-to choice for allergy-conscious users and healthcare facilities.

Sammons Preston Putty for Its Non-Oily Texture

The way a tool feels in your hand can make all the difference between consistent use and letting it gather dust in a drawer. Sammons Preston putty is highly regarded by therapists and users for its exceptionally clean, non-oily texture. It provides the necessary resistance without leaving a greasy or sticky feeling on your hands.

This focus on the sensory experience is more than just a luxury; it promotes adherence to a therapy program. If you enjoy the feel of the putty, you are far more likely to perform your exercises regularly. This putty is designed to be pleasant to handle, which is especially important for anyone with tactile sensitivities.

Sammons Preston is another trusted, clinic-quality brand that is also latex-free. It offers the standard range of resistances and is known for its durability. For the person who has been hesitant to use putty because of a dislike for its texture, this brand is often the perfect solution.

Power-Web Hand Putty for Versatile Exercises

Power-Web is a brand well-known for its innovative web-shaped hand exercisers, and their therapy putty is designed with the same commitment to quality and function. This putty is an excellent choice for someone dedicated to a long-term and varied hand-strengthening routine.

Made from a high-quality silicone, Power-Web putty is formulated to resist crumbling, staining, or drying out, ensuring it can withstand rigorous daily use. It is often sold in larger container sizes, which is a practical benefit for performing two-handed exercises or for users who simply prefer having more material to manipulate.

This putty is perfect for all the standard exercises—squeezing, pinching, and twisting. Its durable, pliable consistency also makes it ideal for more dynamic movements like finger scissoring and spreading, providing a comprehensive workout for all the muscles in the hand and forearm.

Choosing Your Ideal Putty Resistance Level

Selecting the correct resistance is the single most important factor for success with therapy putty. The goal is to find a level that provides a challenge without causing pain. Starting with a putty that is too firm can lead to strain and discouragement.

Most brands use a standard color-coding system, though you should always double-check the product description. Here is a general guide:

• Tan (XX-Soft): Extremely soft. Best for recovering from an injury or for use during a significant arthritis flare-up when hands are very painful and weak.
• Yellow (X-Soft): The most common starting point for arthritic hands. It provides gentle resistance perfect for warming up joints and beginning to build strength.
• Red (Soft): The next step up. Choose this when the yellow putty no longer feels challenging for a full set of exercises.
• Green (Medium): Offers a firm challenge for intermediate strengthening. This is a good goal for many people looking to build functional grip strength.
• Blue (Firm): An advanced level for those focused on building powerful grip and hand strength.

The best rule of thumb is to choose a resistance that allows you to complete 8-12 repetitions of an exercise with noticeable effort by the last few reps. If you feel sharp pain or cannot complete the set, the putty is too firm. If it feels completely effortless, it’s time to move up.

Therapy putty is more than just a rehabilitation tool; it’s a small, proactive investment in your own capability. By dedicating just a few minutes each day to these simple exercises, you are actively preserving the hand strength needed for a secure, independent, and comfortable life in your own home. It’s about ensuring your hands can continue to do all the things you love, for years to come.