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Numb Fingers in Bike
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 2010-09-13 3:21 PM |
Member 52 |  Subject: Numb Fingers in BikeI just finished my first TAT on Saturday. About half way through my bike (10K total) my index finger, middle finger and thumb went numb on both hands (the same feeling as when your foot falls asleep). It's happened a couple times in practice before, but usually only my index finger starts going numb, it's never been that bad. The feeling didn't return until about 2/4 through the 2.5K run...and I was opening and closing my hands almost the whole time in order to restore blood flow/feeling. I'm assuming that it's due to the way I grip the handle bars (I have a road bike, I rest the space between my thumb and index finger in the lower part of the handle bars in order to get a more aero form - otherwise I'll just end up sitting up right). My question: how can I prevent this? How should I be positioning my hands instead? |
| 2010-09-13 3:56 PM in reply to: #3096088 |
105 | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike I had this problem for my first few years of cycling. I found that simply repositioning my hands every few minutes helps blood flow and prevents the nerves from pinching. I also got more padded gloves. If it gets really bad for me I sit up and have my hands on the straight part of the bar. OTH: if you have aero bars you don't have to worry. |
| 2010-09-13 3:58 PM in reply to: #3096088 |
Extreme Veteran 463 Houston/Richmond area | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike |
| 2010-09-13 3:59 PM in reply to: #3096088 |
Expert 2852  Pfafftown, NC | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike Happens to me on the roadie. On the TT bike.....never. Aero position is quite cadillac-ish. |
| 2010-09-13 4:08 PM in reply to: #3096178 |
Veteran 279 San Francisco | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike dblbogy - 2010-09-13 1:58 PM I would check to make sure your bike is fitted properly. +1 Just got mine fit (after a year of riding on what I thought was a good fit) and completely eliminated the problems (although not too bad) I was having with some numbness on the bike and wrist pain post ride. Huge difference. I'm a lot less fidgety on the bike and don't need to keep changing positions to alleviate discomfort. |
| 2010-09-13 4:10 PM in reply to: #3096088 |
| Regular 79 | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike Happens to me on long bike rides. Someone told me it's b/c your putting too much pressure on a nerve in your hand. Move your hand position more often and try not to put a lot of pressure on the part of your hand where the so called life line is. |
| 2010-09-13 7:08 PM in reply to: #3096088 |
| New user 7 Charlottesville | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike Frequently we get hand numbness while riding. One of the most common reasons is an issue with the median nerve, the same one involved with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or CTS. Those folks have the numbness in the thumb, index and long fingers on a more chronic basis and go on to other forms of more involved treatment. You have the choice of wrist flexion (like doing a wrist curl) to take the pressure off the nerve. You have several choices of hand position, use them, and most of the time the numbness, while it may not totally dissipate, will be manageable. John |
| 2010-09-14 5:55 AM in reply to: #3096088 |
Master 1534 San Diego, CA | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike Make sure you get it resolved right away. If you are pinching nerves in your hand due to improper grip/position, then you could do some damage. I had a similar issue when I bought a new bike at the beginning of the year, on long rides I had my hands in an improper position when I was not aero. Lots of pressure on outside bottom of my hand (close to wrist) and I ened up with nerve damage that took many weeks of rest/PT to get over. Nerves take a long time to heal!!!! Get a professional bike fit / assessment of your body position /grip. Good luck ! |
| 2010-09-14 7:44 AM in reply to: #3096088 |
| New user 104 | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike Could be a nerve in your neck too. It happens to me quite frequently even when I lay down because of a deteriorated disc in my neck. My hands go numb/tingle/pins and needles. When it happens on the bike I change hand positions and try to relax my neck. |
| 2010-09-14 7:44 AM in reply to: #3096088 |
| Member 52 | Subject: RE: Numb Fingers in Bike Thanks for all the tips! I'm glad it's not just me that has experienced this and I will definitely be going in to get my fit assessed! |
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