Is it normal for your hands to swell while running?
Michael King
Updated on March 03, 2026
Is it normal for your hands to swell while running?
Hand swelling during exercise is a fairly common problem. The cause isn’t completely clear, but hand swelling appears to be a result of the way your body and blood vessels respond to the increased energy demands of your muscles during exercise.
Is it normal to swell after running?
It’s called venous insufficiency: “The repetitious impact of running causes microtraumas to the small capillaries that deliver oxygen to our extremities, resulting in fluid accumulation and swelling,” says Langer.
What condition makes your hands swell?
Hand swelling is typically caused by fluid retention, arthritis, or a rise in your body temperature. Some causes will improve on their own and are not cause for alarm. Others can become more serious and damage the structures of the hand. Hand swelling may also indicate an underlying illness.
Can dehydration cause swollen fingers?
Dehydration does not typically make fingers swell. In fact, drinking excessive amounts of water, perhaps during a marathon or other strenuous exercise, can lead to hyponatremia, the retention of too much water causing unusually low sodium levels. Hyponatremia can result in swollen fingers.
Why do my fingers swell when I run long distances?
“During exercise, circulation increases, and the hand has a large network of small blood vessels that open up,” he tells Runner’s World. “With the increased blood flow, there is some fluid leak between the cells. This leakage is probably the cause of your fingers swelling.”
How do I get rid of swollen hands?
Try these methods for reducing swelling in your fingers:
- Keep your hand/arm elevated. If you keep your hand down, gravity is keeping the extra fluid in your hand.
- Apply ice to the affected area.
- Wear a splint or compressive wrap. Do not apply too tightly.
- Take anti inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen.
Why do I weigh more the day after a long run?
This type of weight gain is relatively common following long runs. My best guess is that your body reacts to exercise and the relatively minor fluid loss by inappropriately releasing antidiuretic hormone (ADH, also called vasopressin or AVP), which decreases water loss from the kidney.
Why do I retain water after running?
The first is a healing response. “That stress and micro-tearing damage to the muscle fibers induces water retention in the body,” Dr. Calabrese explains. “There may be a small amount of inflammation around the micro tear, and your body retains fluid there to try to heal it.” These are short lived changes in the muscle.
How do I get rid of swelling in my hands?
Will high blood pressure make your hands swell?
You can expect swollen fingers, ankles, and feet when you’re expecting. But sudden swelling, especially in the hands and face, can be a sign of preeclampsia. That’s dangerously high blood pressure that can happen in the second half of pregnancy.
Does sugar cause swollen fingers?
During injury or infection, the body releases chemicals to help protect it and fight off any harmful organisms. This can cause redness, warmth and swelling. Some foods, like sugar, can also cause inflammation in the body, which is normal.