numbness in fingers while swimming

brianrobkelly@hotmail.com · August 11, 2012 10:17AM

Hi All,

my fingers start to go numb after about 30 minutes when swimming. if i stop, then tingling goes away. i can finish 2.4 miles but it is annoying. anyone else have this issue. i believe it starts in my right shoulder, as it is less than 100 % due to age, usuage, etc..

robin sarner · August 11, 2012 5:33PM

Which fingers?

Which side of hand?

Paul Hough · August 11, 2012 5:52PM

Brian, I have a similar issue and my hands are actually sore the day after an IM. But it's both hands, all fingers. I think I'm simply pulling harder in a race than I do in practice. I asked this question in another thread and there were some good responses. I need to search for that and review it myself.

brianrobkelly@hotmail.com · August 11, 2012 8:01PM

@robin..both hands. All fingers..more on rt side. My rt shoulder is not 100%..I quit weights in January to make sure I can swim...

mgraffeo · August 11, 2012 8:33PM

Could be related to low sodium intake

new2703 · August 11, 2012 8:54PM

Sounds like thoracic outlet syndrome.

Brenda Ross · August 12, 2012 5:38AM

I was curious about what John said above, so I looked it up. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002406/

Al Truscott · August 12, 2012 8:00PM

If it doesnt involve other symptoms, like numbness or tingling of the face, lips, then its probably local nerve impingement. If it is bilateral, its probably not due to structural damage in a shoulder joint. If it does not involve muscle weakness as well, then it is probably small (peripheral) nerve in origin. If it is only happening while swimming,then I'd suspect a technique issue, like not relaxing your hand enough during the recovery phase, or not keeping a straight line between hand and forearm while underwater, or trying to keep your fingers clenched together, instead of loosely separated by about one quarter to one half inch.

You might want to talk it over with a doctor.

numbness in fingers while swimming

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