Numbness in the fingers following a workout happens often in athletic types, and as a rule this condition is no cause for alarm. Typically the body will draw blood from the extremities during activity to supply the large muscles of the legs with enough oxygen. But in other cases, numbness in the fingers following exercise may indicate more serious health complications such as nerve damage or stenosis.
Cardiovascular Exercise
Numbness in the fingers following cardiovascular exercise such as running typically relates to vascular adaptations to exercise. According to Dr. Anne Boyd of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the demands of cardiovascular exercise, particularly which favors the large muscles of the lower body such as the quadriceps, hamstrings and glutes, causes the body to concentrate blood in the lower extremities for the duration of exercise. Typically in these cases, blood flow returns to normal after a few hours.
Resistance Exercise
Working out with weights may also cause finger numbness. Typically this happens because the body shunts oxygenated blood out of the fingers into the large muscles that carry the force of the load, such as the pectoralis major, the latissimus dorsi or the deltoids. As a rule, blood flow will reanimate the fingers after the workout. If you wear gloves while lifting weights, also pay attention that the wrist clasps have not been pulled too tight, as they may be restricting blood flow to your fingers.
Nerve Damage
Peripheral neuropathy causes damage to the sensory nerves in the hands. Diabetes can trigger peripheral neuropathy, as can heredity and vitamin and mineral deficiencies. In addition to numbness in the fingers, those with peripheral neuropathy also experience weakness, sharp stabs of pain and tingling. If you experience any of these symptoms, and if the numbness in your fingers intensifies at night, speak to your doctor or health care professional.
Cervical Stenosis
Numbness in the fingers after exercise may also indicate cervical stenosis. Caused by a narrowing of the spinal column, stenosis that occurs in the cervical region of the spine can trigger numbness in the fingers. Other symptoms include neck and shoulder pain, weakness, loss of muscle function and headaches. Multiple circumstances engender cervical stenosis, including intervertebral disk problems, osteoarthritis, obesity, sports with high impact such as football or hockey and bad posture.
References
- Beginner Triathlete; Member Case Study: Numbness in Fingers After Running; Anne Boyd, M.D.; March 2006
- The Neuropathy Association: About Peripheral Neuropathy: Facts
- The Neuropathy Association: About Peripheral Neuropathy: Symptoms and Signs
- Spine Universe; Symptoms of Spinal Stenosis; Kamiah A. Walker; December 2009
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