There are certain physicalthings youexpectto happen with exercise, like getting breathless, sweaty, or fatigued.
Maybe your foot feels like pins and needles halfway through yourellipticalsession.
Or your hand loses sensation while youre busting out a set of overhead presses.
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Perhaps you step off thestationary bikeonly to be greeted by a numbness in your toes.
Whatever the scenario, its understandable to feel caught off guard by it.
Heres what you better know.
What causes numb hands when exercising?
Positioning issues are especially common during cardio.
When your elbow is bent, this position forces that nerve to stretch across the bone in your elbow.
Clenching or pumping your arms too aggressively mid-workout can also contribute to the sensation.
it’s possible for you to also experience positional issues when strength training.
The positioning in both those scenarios can compress your ulnar nerve.
Gripping your weights too hard, Dr. Chen adds.
That can reduce blood flow to your hand and ultimately cause numbness or tingling.
What if you start feeling the numbness or tingling in your feet too?
Its common to feel this sensation in your feet as well, and it happens for a similar reason.
Exercising increases blood flow to your muscles, causing them to swell, Dr.
Cue the numbness and tingling.
On the elliptical machine, your foot is swelling inside of your sneaker and not changing positions, Dr. ## How can you prevent numbness or tingling in your hands and feet when working out?
Paying attention to form can be helpful.
Take the inadvertent clenching that people tend to do with running, for instance.
Do similar regarding your lower half too.
What about numbness or tinglingafteryour workout?
Numbness or tingling that lingers postworkout could also be due to a prior injury that caused nerve issues.
In either case, you should chat with your doctor about whats going on.
Gross suggests seeing your doctor immediately if youre experiencing this combo.
