Does anyone get swelled hands and fingers near the end of a run?

[Dendev75]

Now and again I’ll complete a run and notice that my fingers and hands have swelled. It goes down after about an hour after my run and the Practice Nurse at my docs didn’t seem too worried about it when I told her. Has anyone else experienced this?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

This one comes up every now and then on the forum and there are various theories around it.

This runnersworld.com/health-inj... gives some ideas but if you Google you will find plenty of reading and various explanations.

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I’m glad it’s come up before, thank you I will read this now 👍🏻

[j-runs Graduate]

This happens to me after long walks. I've googled it and it seems nothing to worry about. It was given as one advantage of Nordic walking over hiking, as holding the sticks keeps your hands active. I haven't experienced it as yet when running - probably don't run long enough as yet! It's quite annoying but not painful. Hope others can shed some light on it

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to j-runs]

I normally flex my fingers when I run but today as I was running for 35 mins I decided to take my water bottle - I’m wondering if that had any effect as I didn’t do my flexing. Yes not painful at all but feels a bit weird when they’re like sausages 🤭

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to Dendev75]

Gripping anything in your hands while running will produce muscular tensions, which militate against the relaxed symmetry that you should ideally have.

If you really need to take water then a bottle holding belt is a much better bet.

We often get people complaining of shoulder aches and tensions and these are invariably caused by carrying either a bottle or phone in their hand.

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

That’s why I love this forum, I didn’t know bottle holding belts were a thing - Googling now - thank you 😊

[M0use Graduate]

I get it on walks and longer runs, I've found that not bending my arms quite so much so less of an angle at the elbow and giving my hands a shake every so often helps. It's a weird feeling though. ☺️

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to M0use]

Oh this I good to know I’m not alone. I carry a water bottle sometimes as a safety blanket (I always have bits of drinks all over the house 🤪). They’re always back to normal about an hour later but it does feel strange.

[Liono Graduate]

I haven't had it but have heard of it and think it's pretty common - I've seen posts on here or poss the Bridge to 10k forum before. I think it's thought to be down to a combination of reduced peripheral circulation and centrifugal forces.

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Liono]

Circulation is something I do suffer with (white finger) but that’s mainly in cold weather so maybe sausage fingers is my hot weather version 🤣😂

[Liono Graduate in reply to Dendev75]

😂 how lovely - fingers for every season 🤣

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Liono]

😂🤣 love it

[nowster Graduate]

I sometimes get a numbness in one thumb about an hour after doing parkrun on Saturday then pushing a trolley round Lidl. It passes after a few minutes.

I do often get fat fingers after a winter run when wearing gloves. It's a common thing.

PS. You don't need to carry water for short runs. I have a backpack for long runs.

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to nowster]

That’s strange - I think it’s happened a few times and I’m okay afterwards so it can’t be anything too important. I took water as I was going to do a long walk after my run, but I’ve since learned there are running belts to carry it so it’s not in my hands 👍🏻

[RainbowC Graduate]

I get hot & swollen fingers quite often when running - but it settles down again afterwards so I’ve never really thought about it until now! 😄

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Is it only during summer do you notice? I’ve never ran in the winter yet as I only started this spring.

[RainbowC Graduate in reply to Dendev75]

Any time of year I think. Admittedly it’s at least 3 years since I last ran much, but my hands do weird things whenever they feel like it!

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to RainbowC]

Yes mine too, I get stripy fingers in the winter time

[Pinkpig20 Graduate]

I have read that it can be because of hydration, hot weather and circulation. Ensure you drink enough water the day before and the day you run. Everyday really! 😀

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Pinkpig20]

Yes that could definitely be a factor - I know I need to drink more water every day 👍🏻

[Newbierunner84 Graduate]

Yes I get sausage fingers! They’re swollen and very pale! I don’t tend to notice until I’m doing my cool down walk. They soon go back to normal. I don’t remember them being like that in the colder months but I’ll pay more attention this winter!

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Newbierunner84]

Yes I only notice on my cool down walk too, they feel strange. I’ll see if I get sausage fingers this winter - I usually get white finger in winter.

[JetsNanna Graduate]

It happens to me on occasion and it tends to be when it’s very warm and when I haven’t paid much attention to my hydration. That may be a coincidence but I don’t tend to stress over it as it passes as soon as I cool down anyway. Try staying better hydrated. 😊

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to JetsNanna]

Yes I think I need to make sure I drink more water each day 👍🏻

[slothington Graduate]

YES! I put if down to a centrifuge effect of blood pooling in hands on the end of swinging arms. Welcome to the sausage finger club... 🤣

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to slothington]

Ha ha love it - the sausage finger club 👍🏻🤣

[Sanwellies1]

I get sausage fingers when I run, walk, hike and mainly in summer. Meant to be your body reserving fluid as it doesn't know how long you'll do the activity with no liquid. Like a back up hydration system incase your body becomes desperate. It mainly happens in summer as you loose more body heat and sweat more so you loose more fluid. It's an emergency reserve, so iv read and seems the only elogical explanation. Best to hydrate well every day not just on run days. I now drink a litre of water every day and it doesn't happen as often, only on the longer runs. And I drink a litre as I'm only 5ft 2, you may need to drink more. This theory worked a lot better for me, hope it does for you. Happy running

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Sanwellies1]

Yes that makes sense - I know I definitely need to up the water intake - I’ll see if that helps.

[Dellie100 Graduate]

Me too. The swelling goes down after running, usually after warm down and shower. I’ve not really given it much thought 🤔

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Dellie100]

Yes mine takes about an hour to go down - but when it first happened my fingers felt so strange that it scared me. I’m glad it’s not only me as quite a few people have said they get it too 😉

[Rennur Graduate]

Also your feet swell a little. Hence the need for a size bigger (or at least a half size) running shoes and don't lace them up too tightly

[Dendev75 Graduate in reply to Rennur]

I’ve never thought about my feet but now you’ve mentioned it I do notice my laces feel tighter sometimes after a run 🏃🏽‍♀️