Experiencing numbness and tingling can be nerve-wracking, especially if it occurs during or after exercise. The pins-and-needles sensation can come from an injury, a nerve disorder or hyperventilating. If your symptoms persist even after resting, you should seek the advice of a medical professional to rule out serious illness or injury.
Injuries
If you injure yourself during exercise, you may feel some numbness and tingling in the affected extremities. Your injury could range from fairly mild to relatively serious. A simple muscle strain can put some pressure on a nerve, which could cause tingling. More vigorous exercise can cause a neck or back injury, such as a slipped disk, which could also cause a pins-and-needles feeling in an arm or leg. Applying ice for the first two or three days after an injury, then switching to heat until you feel better, can help heal the injury and resolve the numbness.
Hyperventilation
During exercise, you may hyperventilate, which can cause some numbness and tingling, especially in your extremities and your lips. Other symptoms may include dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness and shortness of breath. Because hyperventilation as well as its associated symptoms may be caused by heart or lung problems, you should seek medical care if you experience it for the first time. If you have previously seen a doctor and have been assured that you can manage your hyperventilation at home, try resting and breathing through pursed lips to help relieve your symptoms.
Cold Weather
If you are exercising outdoors in cold weather, you may experience numbness and tingling in your hands and feet. The rest of your body may feel warm, so you might remove layers of clothing, but your fingers and toes still need to be covered with gloves, socks and shoes. If you notice tingling and numbness, go inside as quickly as possible and apply warm, but not hot, compresses to the area to gradually warm them up. If you can not get the areas warmed promptly, you may develop frostbite, which can cause permanent damage to the areas.
When to Seek Medical Attention
If you experience an injury which does not get better within a few days or which gets worse, see your doctor. If your injury seems to improve but your numbness and tingling does not resolve itself, you should also check with your doctor. If you experience hyperventilation frequently while exercising, you should seek medical care. While cold fingers and toes and mild frostbite can be managed at home, you should call your doctor if you continue to have numbness or tingling after the areas have been warmed.
