Finger Numbness

[Sue1279]

I have issues with my fingers going numb while riding. I have changed my hand positions while riding. I have a new bike with bar ends and have started uses those. I have also made a conscious effort to keep my elbows bent so that I don't put too much pressure on my hands. However I still have my fingers going numb. When I am off the bike after a minute or two the numbness passes. What causes this? Any suggestions?

[Blueberry]

Are you wearing gloves? Sometimes they can help.

Have you had a bike fit done on the new bike? Sometimes too much pressure on the hands can cause issues like you describe. Did you have this issue on another bike?

[murielalex]

I had a similar issue and here's what's helped me:

The two most important changes were to move my seat back about a 1/2 inch, as I was too far forward and putting my weight on my hands, and work on my posture.

I now focus a lot on my posture while riding, which is annoying to always pay attention to, but it's the only thing that's helped, and it's becoming more natural, and I am now doing core muscle work off the bike. I think this has made the biggest difference for me. When I don't pull, for lack of a better way of saying it, my belly back into spine, everything goes wrong: sore lower back, sore lady bits, tight neck and shoulders, and numb hands. The better I get at my posture, the better I feel on the bike and when I'm done. I did 50 miles yesterday, and did not have my fingers/hands go numb once, When they did start to tingle, I just refocused on my posture and moved hand position, and no problems.

I also changed my gloves. I have normal women's hands, but fat fingers, and women's gloves were cutting off the circulation. Bought a pair of small men's gloves and that helped a lot. Also, I found I like gloves with not a lot of padding. Too much padding wasn't helping.

Hope this helps. I'm still a newbie and learning. The hand thing was making me nuts my first few rides, so I hope you can find a solution.

[Sue1279]

Blueberry and Murielalex, thanks so much for the response. I do wear gloves and did have a bike fitting. I just got in from a ride and did a bit better. I do wear gloves and will evaluate whether they are too tight. Oddly I noticed that when my fingers get numb if I rub then over my bike shorts the friction eliminates the numbness.

I have a weak core and know I need to work on this. What kind of core exercises are you doing? I will be taking my bike in for a 30 day check in a couple of weeks. I will pay attention to posture and position between now and then and may ask about these changes when having the fitting checked.

It was a great day for riding although I definitely have a love hate relationship with the wind!

[Blueberry]

I'm inclined to think that might be a glove issue. Sometimes it's a too tight issue, sometimes it's a too much or too little padding issue. I have to have some padding, but too much gel is worse than no padding for me.

For core work, I don't think you can beat Pilates. I notice marked improvement when I'm more regular with my work.

[TsPoet]

Probably what has already been suggested are the best, but... your comment about keeping your elbows bent caught me. I have ulnar nerve entrapment in m elbow - the equivalent of carpal tunnel, except up in the elbow instead of down in the wrist - so bending my elbows can cause my fingers to go numb. To tell the difference - generally if it the numb fingers stem from the elbow, the fingers will go numb from the pinky inwards. I gather that carpel tunnel goes the other direction, with the thumb going numb then the index finger and so on.
Just a thought.
(Oh, and it's annoying and can ruin dexterity, but it ins't pathological).

[Sue1279]

Rode on Monday. I didn't wear gives which didn't make any difference. I did pay attention to where the numbness starts and it is from my index finger back. I will keep playing with different things until I figure out what works best. Thanks for the great advice!