My runs are getting longer now that it’s spring and almost half marathon time. Since I’ve increased my weekend distances over 10 K, I’ve noticed that my hands start to swell after an hour or so of running. It’s to the point that I almost can’t make a tight fist, and my wedding ring can not be removed. Today on my run I noticed that the skin between my joints on my fingers was pale white as well.
The swelling goes away within about a half an hour after the end of my run.
Is this because of hydration, blood flow, not moving my hands much / keeping my forearms bent at an angle for so long, or something else?
When you run, do your forearms remain more or less parallel to the ground or do you flex the elbow a lot?
Centripetal force might be forcing blood to stay in your hands if you have a vigorous arm swing.
It could be a sign of hyponatermia, but that’s usually accompanied with confusion and vomiting.
Otherwise, it just seems to be one of those things that happens with a lot of runners. Last long run I did a few days ago, I did 12 miles and my fingers were numb, tingling, and white from the middle joint to the tip for about 30-45 minutes after my run. I was a little concerned about it, but apparently, that’s another thing that a lot of runners get at longer distances. Whatever it is, I wouldn’t worry about it.
It happens to me too. I always assumed it was just another sign of getting hot while you exercise, like your face getting red. I never worried about it - I’ll watch this thread and see whether I need to start! :eek:
Oh, another thing that might be a clue: I sweat a LOT of salt out. Today after my run, I had white salt crusted in my hair at the hairline, and lines of white running down my face and neck. I’ve never worried about it, but wonder if something is going on because I never see other people with that problem.
Given the distances you’re going I’d guess the motion is the majority of the impact. There’s the possibility of an electrolyte imbalance though; too much or too little salt. Ultra runners often have the issue in longer races (where long means 5-30 hours). I’ve had a bit of hand swell about 30 miles into a 50 miler before. I suspect mine was dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
I do not run.
I do walk and have had hand swelling many times.
I now keep my hands working, opening and closing during long walks.
We do a 10 K event on Independence Day. Walkers start out 30 min before the runners. I enjoy listening for the runners approaching me as I walk along with my usual 100 lbs in a frame pack. The lead runners go by with almost no sound and as the event progresses the slower runners are getting noisier. The pounding of feet gets louder and louder and that is how I ran long ago.
Some of us just should not run.
I’ve never noticed it in my fingers, but my belly bloats noticeably by the end of a hour long work out - my waist swells by an inch or so (yes, I’ve used a tape measure before and after to see if my perception was accurate). I assume it has to do with drinking too much water during said workout.
I’ve never ran, but upon reading this thread I remembered how my hands would swell all the time when I was hiking longer distances many years ago. At the time I thought this had to do with my backpack straps affecting peripheral circulation or whatnot, but I’m not that sure anymore. I had some issues with low blood pressure back then, up to the point of occasionally fainting without a reason. Small wonder, if blood prefers my fingers to my brain!
I ran a half marathon yesterday and I noticed my hands were really swollen, too. It was the first time I’d ever noticed swelling, but it was the longest I’d ever run. I never clench my hands either, I like to wiggle my fingers a lot because they seem to get stiff.
