When I run longer than an hour, my hands swell-up as if they are retaining water. No matter the weather, my fingers look bloated. Its not painful, just concerns me that my fingers are twice their size after long runs. Does this happen to anyone else? If so, what causes it. When I run long I ensure I am hydrated and I take salt pills when the weather calls for it.
Happens to me quite a bit, esp in warm weather.
I just hold them up after I run and it resolves. I attribute it to my body’s way of trying to cool off.
I’d be worried if it didn’t go away.
ditto with LovePugs. My hands almost always swell during an hour plus run (especially in warm weather). Sometimes it looks like I’ve had an allergic reaction! But, it usually disappears in about 1/2 to 1 hour. I’ve tried changing my salt intake, water intake, etc but it does not seem to help. It does not bother me…it’s just a bit disconcerting.
Happens to me all the time, and it’t the reason why I don’t run with my wedding and engagement rings on.
Take a look at your electrolyte balance as well. Swelling can be an indication of needing salt. You may be a salty sweater. Try taking an extra salt tab. It is hard to over salt because your body just pees out the extra.
Yes I have noticed that too on my long runs. I also wonder if the centrifugal force from swinging my arms slows blood return to the heart, plus my hands not getting much action, just kinda the lightly curled fist.
Only other time it happens besides long runs, is long walks on the beach in Texas. (humidity?) (long walks here don’t cause it)
Happens to me too. And even moreso on a ride longer than 3 h. By the end of an IM I have ten sausages on my hands, it’s gross.
Sorry I can’t help you prevent it, I can only commiserate.
Still happening?
You should have some electrolyte testing done right after you work out. A friend of mine gained 13 lbs last year in Kona. She was drinking water and taking salt tablets the whole time. When she went to the med tent they did some test and found out she was low on potassium. Her body kept telling her she needed something so she was taking a lot of salt tablets and retained a ton of water. Took her a couple days before she wasn’t swollen all over.
Happens to me all the time, and it’t the reason why I don’t run with my wedding and engagement rings on.
same here. i will “swell” in my legs and stomach too. then it goes away after a bit.
i think it’s the body’s way of trying to hold onto water.
I find that as I’m running, if I consciously make a tight fist and relax and repeat 5-10 times about every 10 minutes, it helps relieve some of that swelling. Also, when walking (to the beach walker here) if you pick up a small rock (big enough to fit in the palm of your hand though) and as you walk, occasionaly squeezw the rock, it will help keep the swelling down. It seems as though it gets the blood flowing out of my hands since they are in relatively the same place for a long period of time. Also raising your arms and hands over your head on occasion and making fists also works to get the blood flowing out the hands. Learned these tricks from my parents who are avid hikers/walkers. It’s worth trying at least.
Thanks for the replies–I was beginning to think I was alone in my plight! I think I’m gonna try to the ‘squeeze and release’ method and see how it goes. For awhile I tried to run with my fingertips pointing upwards in an effort to try to releive the swelling–but its not a good look! It looked like I was trying to dry my nails! As for the electrolyte test, I need to see if there is a sports doc in the area I can hook-up with. I have been slightly hesitant with my use of salt tablets ever since a bad gastro-incident with Lava Salts a few years back! I found out the hard way that you need to take plenty of water with each tablet! 
Either way, I have also been slowly adding salt to my daily diet. Since I will be running in the 150% humidity in Ft Walton Beach for the next 2 years–I will keep you posted on what works to reduce “sausage fingers”!
yep, I totally agree with JenHs on this one. It is primarily a salt imbalance usually towards too much hydration from what I’ve read. I took salt tabs this weekend on my long runs (thank God) and my hands were alot less swollen the last couple of miles in.
I’m so glad you posted this as well. I’ve been dealing with the same issue and had just written it off as “something to deal with” on long runs. I’ll try adding a salt tab to the mix as well as the fist/squeezing thing.
Thanks again ladies!
M
Any recommendations on salt tabs and/or a sports drink with a good balance of electrolytes/sodium? I have been taking Endurolyte (sp?) Salt Tablets and drinking a Cytomax Endurance power/drink. There are so many options out there–just trying to narrow down my search.
nuun tablets can get me through about 65-70 miles on the bike. they’re great.