Numbness in fingers while in OAHS

[frolosophy]

So this question is specifically directed towards the handbalancers out there: Have any of you ever experienced numbness in your fingers from practicing the OAHS?

I've been putting a lot of hours into my handbalancing lately (~3 hours a day, which might explain something) and, as I favour my right hand, I spend most of my one arm practise on that one. However, over the past few days the ring finger on my right hand has started to go numb (as if it's fallen asleep) after a short time practising. My pinky and middle fingers also feel a little tingly, though only slightly. I spend several minutes warming up my wrists and I'm not experiencing any pain or long term effects.

I'm not terribly concerned at this point, but if this is the onset of a bigger problem, I'd like to know about it. Any input into this would be appreciated.

[Joshua Slocum]

I have no experience with this particular problem. If I were experiencing a similar problem, my response would be to cut down on training volume. If you're new to OAH, or recently increased your training volume, it could simply be that your body is not yet up to the new demands you're placing on it and needs some more rest. 

[frolosophy]

I've considered that it may simply be a result of the increased volume. I'm a little reluctant to cut down as I'm very close to making new strides, and it's something that I've found is best practised daily. I am perhaps getting a little overexcited due to new breakthroughs and good weather. Perhaps I'll cut down to an hour a day for the next week or so and see how I feel. Thanks for the input. 

[Joshua Slocum]

I've considered that it may simply be a result of the increased volume. I'm a little reluctant to cut down as I'm very close to making new strides, and it's something that I've found is best practised daily. I am perhaps getting a little overexcited due to new breakthroughs and good weather. Perhaps I'll cut down to an hour a day for the next week or so and see how I feel. Thanks for the input. 

I would cut down the daily volume but maintain the weekly frequency. I find working a skill many days a week with lighter volume often leads to more consistent progress than working the skill a few days a week with heavier volume. 

[David McManamon]

I have not looked at the nerves running to the fingers lately but you are compressing your wrist and a nerve may get compressed too.  I would consider ways to create space in the wrist before and after training.  If you have a training partner ask them to pull your wrist/hand as you relax and lean away from them.  Is your training primarily on the floor or blocks?  Why not train your bad side harder than your good?

[frolosophy]

I have not looked at the nerves running to the fingers lately but you are compressing your wrist and a nerve may get compressed too.  I would consider ways to create space in the wrist before and after training.  If you have a training partner ask them to pull your wrist/hand as you relax and lean away from them.  Is your training primarily on the floor or blocks?  Why not train your bad side harder than your good?

I train alone, primarily on the floor. I tend to alternate sides every hold; I just happen to be better on my right so I spend a little more time on that one. I'll make a point to even out a bit more in the future. I train outdoors on somewhat uneven patio stones usually, so there may be a slight variance in weight distribution as a result of that. Perhaps I should make a platform that I can use for balancing.

I'm pretty religious with my wrist prehab, but I'll try that wrist stretch you mention when someone else is home. Thanks for the advice.

[frolosophy]

So I've done a little research and I think what I've done is entrapped my ulnar nerve as I've just noticed that, while the numbness has almost completely faded, I can't seem to move my pinky and ring fingers laterally. :| 

I'm going to stay off it for a day or two and schedule an appointment with my doctor. Apparently this condition is more common with cyclists (my other hobby) so I'm apparently at high risk for this happening.

[Joseph Blazuk]

Possibly ulnar entrapment at Guyon's canal.  Still, carpal tunnel with stretching of the median nerve is much more common even if your symptoms seem ulnar.  Can diagnose with EMG/NCS.  Would be an interesting case report - ulnar nerve entrapment at Guyon's canal in a handbalancer (let me know I'll write it up, haha!).  Different possible entrapment sites around Guyon's canal with some affecting sensory fibers only, some motor, some mixed.  Can try splinting and I believe there are special bike gloves.  Avoid aggravating activity and slowly re-introduce it, increasing volume based on symptoms.  Would continue working hand intrinsics (squeezing rice, fanning out fingers and closing them in rice).  Can advance to sand, add water as needed.  But yes as always... get a diagnosis before you (so that you can) come up with a plan.

[Timothy Aiken]

This same thing happened to me when I first began ring training! It passed with time, but the stresses placed by the rings on the palm are much different than the stresses from the floor in an OAH. 

[frolosophy]

Possibly ulnar entrapment at Guyon's canal.  Still, carpal tunnel with stretching of the median nerve is much more common even if your symptoms seem ulnar.  Can diagnose with EMG/NCS.  Would be an interesting case report - ulnar nerve entrapment at Guyon's canal in a handbalancer (let me know I'll write it up, haha!).  Different possible entrapment sites around Guyon's canal with some affecting sensory fibers only, some motor, some mixed.  Can try splinting and I believe there are special bike gloves.  Avoid aggravating activity and slowly re-introduce it, increasing volume based on symptoms.  Would continue working hand intrinsics (squeezing rice, fanning out fingers and closing them in rice).  Can advance to sand, add water as needed.  But yes as always... get a diagnosis before you (so that you can) come up with a plan.

I appreciate the detailed reply. It does seem unusual for this type of thing to occur from a normal handstand position. I'm wondering if I was simply aggravating the condition while balancing when it was in fact caused by something else. (Only think I can think of is false-grip stuff but I haven't been doing very much of that lately.) I'll report back after I get a diagnosis.

Forgot to add that I've never had any wrist problems from cycling in 7 years, so I'm not too sure it's the cause.