Hand Swelling During Exercise: A Concern? - Mayo Clinic

What causes hand swelling during exercise? I walk several times a week, and my fingers get so puffy that I can't get my rings off.

Hand swelling during exercise is common. The cause isn't completely clear. It appears to result from the way your body and blood vessels react to the higher energy needs of your muscles during exercise.

During exercise, more blood flows to your heart and lungs and to the muscles you're working. Less blood may flow to your hands, making them cooler. The blood vessels in your hands may react by opening wider. This could lead to hand swelling.

As you exercise, your muscles make heat. Your body pushes blood to the vessels closest to your skin to let the heat out. This action causes sweating. It also may make your hands swell.

Sometimes, high-level athletes develop hyponatremia (hi-poe-nuh-TREE-me-uh). This is an unusually low level of salt, also called sodium, in the blood. Swollen fingers and hands may be a sign of hyponatremia. Other signs, such as confusion and throwing up, may stand out more than the swelling. Hyponatremia is a serious condition that needs medical treatment right away.

There's no proven way to prevent or reduce most exercise-related hand swelling. But these tips may help ease trouble:

• Take off your rings and loosen your watchband before exercise.
• Circle your arms forward and backward at times during exercise.
• Stretch your fingers wide, make fists and raise your hands higher than your heart several times during exercise.
• When walking, use a hiking pole to keep your hand muscles squeezing.
• Wear gloves that are snug but not too tight.
• Drink liquids that have some salt in them while exercising, such as a sports drink that has electrolytes.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

Email Address 1 Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Subscribe!

Thank you for subscribing!

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription

Please, try again in a couple of minutes

Retry

• Foot swelling during air travel: A concern?

• Share
• Tweet

Feb. 11, 2023 Show references

1. Kenney WL, et al. Cardiorespiratory responses to acute exercise. In: Physiology of Sport and Exercise. 8th ed. Champaign, Ill. Human Kinetics; 2022.
2. Rangan GK, et al. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of hyponatremia associated with oral water intake in adults: A systematic review. British Medical Journal Open. 2021; doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046539.
3. Medical review (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Nov. 23, 2022.
4. Giudice ML. Effects of continuous passive motion and elevation on hand edema. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 1990; doi:10.5014/ajot.44.10.914.
5. Cohen PR. Post ambulatory swollen hands (POTASH): An autobiographical case report. Cureus. 2021; doi: 10.7759/cureus.19312.

See more Expert Answers

Products and Services

1. A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book
2. Available Compression Products from Mayo Clinic Store
3. Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition

See also

1. Chronic sinusitis
2. Cirrhosis
3. Cirrhosis FAQs
4. Cirrhosis self-care and diet
5. Cold urticaria
6. Edema
7. Foot swelling during air travel: A concern?
8. Mitral valve clip to treat mitral regurgitation: Bob's story
9. Mitral valve overview
10. Mitral valve regurgitation
11. Mitral valve regurgitation
12. Myocarditis
13. POEMS syndrome
14. Robotic heart surgery treats mitral regurgitation: Ed's story
15. Scleroderma
16. Symptom Checker
17. What is cirrhosis? A Mayo Clinic expert explains

Show more related content