“My hands swell when I exercise”

You have may arthritis. You should get a doctor to examine.

That’s unusual. It could be a heart or vascular problem. Consult with your medical doctor.

Hands usually do not swell during exercise ??

Could be rheumatoid arthritis or heart failure

Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. from the Mayo Clinic covers this phenomenon in wonderful detail:


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.

Exercise increases blood flow to your heart and lungs, as well as to the muscles you're working. This can reduce blood flow to your hands, making them cooler. In turn, the blood vessels in your hands may react by opening wider — which could lead to hand swelling.


As you continue to exercise, your muscles generate heat that makes your system push blood to the vessels closest to the surface of your body, to dissipate heat. This response triggers perspiration and may also contribute to hand swelling.

Sometimes, endurance athletes develop hyponatremia (hi-poe-nuh-TREE-me-uh) — an abnormally low level of sodium concentration. Swollen fingers and hands may be a sign of hyponatremia, but other signs, such as confusion and vomiting, are more prominent than is swelling. Drinking too much water, particularly during a marathon or similar long, strenuous event, may cause your body's sodium to become so diluted that you become hyponatremic. Hyponatremia requires immediate medical attention.

There's no proven way to prevent or reduce most exercise-related hand swelling, but these tips may help ease discomfort:
•Remove your rings and loosen your watchband before exercise.
•Perform occasional forward and backward arm circles during exercise.
•Stretch your fingers wide and then make fists several times during exercise.

Hand swelling during exercise is a common problem. The cause isn't completely clear, but hand swelling appears to be a result of blood vessels dilating in response to the increased energy demands of your muscles during exercise.

That could be to increase circulation of blood towards your hands causing local edema.

I don’t have enough information to answer your question. I don’t know your age or condition you may have. Usually, in healty individuals lifting weights will cause the increased venous pressure in upper part of the body. This will further increase filtration pressure and force water out to intersticium, that will further result in slight hand swelling.

I think that is a normal response to exercise since the blood flow increases. Just make sure to stay hydrated.

The blood vessels in the hands will dilate, meaning "open up," when it requires more blood flow, which is commonly required during exertional activities, especially when most blood flow is diverted to the heart and muscles.
Avoid wearing rings during a work out
and try squeezing a stress ball during the work out to keep the blood flowing.

please undergo thorough evaluation by a board certified primary care physician to determine cause and plan of action

Some things that come to mind are tight exercise clothing, unusual allergic response (hives) to substances released in your body during exercise, or some sort of issue with blood vessels supplying your arms. It would be a good idea to get it checked out.