Numbness and tingling often affect the extremities of your body, including your hands. These sensations often occur together, and you might also experience acute pain, weakness in the hands or a burning sensation. MayoClinic.com explains that irritated or compressed nerves generally cause numbness in the hands. Yoga could potentially cause these sensations, although there are numerous other possible causes, so see your doctor to determine the cause and treatment.
Numbness and Tingling from Yoga
It is possible for yoga to cause numbness and tingling in your hands. National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus explains that staying in one position for too long, a nerve injury or pressure on your nerves can all cause numbness in your extremities, including your hands. Yoga often involves holding a position for an extended period of time, and it is an exercise that can challenge your body to move in ways you might not be used to, which could cause pressure or injury.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Yoga
Yoga can have an effect on carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition with compression on the wrists that can cause tingling and numbness. Certain yoga poses, like downward-facing dog, put a lot of pressure on the wrists and could exacerbate carpal tunnel syndrome. In an article for the IDEA Health and Fitness Association, Lee Lipton, physician assistant-certified, recommends modifying these poses to put the pressure on the forearms instead of the wrist. Also, Lipton explains that yoga might improve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, citing studies where yoga, especially when focusing on the upper body, reduced symptoms of the condition.
Considerations
Yoga might also improve some conditions that cause tingling, as it can stretch and limber your back and neck. For example, in an article for the "Yoga Journal," certified Iyengar yoga teacher and sleep research scientist Roger Cole explains that tension in your upper body can cause hand numbness and tingling. This is known as thoracic outlet syndrome. Cole explains that yoga can help align and limber the upper chest, shoulders and neck, which can counteract this problem. He recommends lengthening poses and relaxing through breathing. However, Cole warns that if you have a different condition causing the tingling, yoga might cause more harm than good, so check with your doctor for a proper diagnosis first.
Other Sources
While yoga is one potential cause of tingling in your hands, the sensation can have numerous other causes. Some of these include shingles, improper levels of vitamins and minerals, medications, animal or insect bites or radiation therapy. A number of health conditions like diabetes, HIV/AIDS or a stroke can also cause this phenomenon. Talk to your doctor to determine the cause of this sensation. Get immediate medical attention if the numbness comes on suddenly, is in your entire arm or you also experience trouble talking or thinking, dizziness, a severe headache or weakness or paralysis.
