Every chiropractor for athletes in Oakland, CA helps sports professionals be at their best condition on the playing field. A common problem among them is sleeping hands, an uncomfortable situation that points to a pinched nerve in the hands. 

The good news is that the tingling and numb sensations are mostly nothing to worry about. We will discuss pinched nerves in athletes, their symptoms, and the prevention methods in this blog. At the end of the post, we will introduce a natural care option for pinched nerve relief in Oakland, CA.

Explaining a Pinched Nerve in the Hand

The importance of having a healthy hand function cannot be stressed enough in the world of sports. Sports such as basketball, handball, hockey, boxing, and volleyball require athletes to have strong hands. However, an athlete's hands could be put at risk due to several reasons.

One of the problems that could affect the hand's power to play is a pinched nerve. It's when a nerve in your hands gets irritated or compressed. There are three primary nerves in your arms:

• Median nerve 
• Radial nerve
• Ulnar nerve

A sleeping or numb hand could be an indicator that there is a pinched nerve in your arm. Visiting a trusted chiropractor for athletes in Oakland, CA would help know the cause of your pinched nerve. 

Signs and Symptoms of a Pinched Nerve in Athletes

If you’re an athlete, the fields or the court is your version of Disneyland. It’s the happiest place on Earth. It's the place where you can show off your talent and strengths. However, after some time of playing, some of your body parts get tired or worn out. As a result, you begin to feel some aching in your legs, arms, and neck. The pain could also be a symptom of a pinched nerve. 

Knowing the symptoms of a pinched nerve is vital. A proper diagnosis can help you get proper care for pinched nerve relief in Oakland, CA. Note that the location of the symptoms depends on the site of the pinched nerve. 

• Tingling sensation
• Numbness
• Burning sensation
• Muscle weakness
• Neck pain
• Shoulder pain
• Back pain

To learn more about the connection between head and neck injuries and pinched nerves, download our complimentary e-book by clicking the image below.

How Sports Cause Pinched Nerves

A lot of good things come out when playing sports. It helps improve your respiration, increases strength, reduces stress, and enhances confidence. However, it can also result in muscle or nerve damages, such as a pinched nerve.

Our chiropractor for athletes in Oakland, CA, sees increased patients complaining of pinched nerve symptoms after playing certain sports. Here are common ways on how your favorite sport could cause pinched nerve symptoms:

• Sudden twisting of any parts of the body
• Spine compression caused by repeated running and jumping
• Acute and severe trauma from a sport injury
• Repeated movements when playing, causing wear and tear on the spine. Over time, the bones in the spine move closer as a result of bone growth. This process can then compress the nerves inside the athlete's body.

Exercises to Ease a Pinched Nerve in the Hands 

Athletes perform a wide variety of activities when playing. Such activities include gripping, carrying weights, punching (for boxers), etc. Unfortunately, these repetitive movements may trigger the occurrence of a pinched nerve in the hands. As a result, you may feel weakness, numbness, and stiffness in your arms, fingers, and wrist. 

Hand exercises are one of the most accessible options for pinched nerve relief in Oakland, CA. You can do these exercises at home. However, talk with your doctor first before performing any of these stretches and exercises. 

Simple Wrist, Arm, and Hand Stretches

• Desk press – this is one of the easiest wrist stretches that you can perform anywhere. Place both of your palms' faces under the desk. Then, press them upward and hold for about 5 to 10 seconds.
• Extending the arm – bring one of your upward with your palms facing the ceiling. Then, gently press your fingers down using your free hand towards the floor. Hold your fingers for about 10 to 30 seconds. 
• Squeezing a tennis ball – if you're a tennis athlete, you can take advantage of your tennis balls. Aside from using them to play, you can use them to relieve some of your pinched nerve symptoms. Squeeze the ball firmly with your hands for 10-15 seconds. 
• Yoga – Yoga is also one of the easiest ways to relieve pain and strengthen your hands. 

How to Prevent Pinched Nerves as Athletes 

Pinched nerves are kind of difficult to prevent from occurring. However, as athletes, you can lower your risk of developing one if you do the tips below.

Maintain a healthy weight 

Gaining weight can cause compression of your nerves. Therefore, you should maintain a healthy weight. Most athletes already have a healthy weight that's enough to support their physical needs. However, if you are currently going through some weight gain, you need to adjust your lifestyle.

Weight gain not only limits your performance in the field, but it can also cost you your health. Here are tips to regulate your weight as an athlete.

• Avoid crash diets. Do not surprise your body by cutting off your calory intake drastically.
• Eat more protein-rich food.
• Refuel your body with a healthy diet every after training.
• Perform strength training.
• Eat less sugar-rich food and consume more fiber.

Take frequent breaks in between hard training

Taking breaks between training is essential for strength recovery. This is also vital to let your pinched nerve repair itself quicker. Remember not to overuse your nerves to avoid irritating them. When you sleep, make sure that you lie down in a position that can relieve nerve pressure.

Use ice and heat packs

Use ice and a heat pack where your pinched nerve is to reduce swelling. This can help restore proper blood circulation. A good blood flow can help relieve the pressure in your nerve. Hold ice or heat pack over the pinched nerve for about 10-15 minutes. Doing this three times a day can significantly help reduce inflammation. 

Consider Specific Chiropractic Care for Pinched Nerves

Pinched nerves in athletes could be due to several factors. However, spinal misalignment is one of the most common reasons seen by our chiropractor for athletes in Oakland, CA. Even the slightest misalignment on the spine can irritate and put pressure on the nerves. 

Specific chiropractic care is a technique that can help correct the subluxation in your spine. In addition, corrections in your spine can help alleviate the symptoms of your pinched nerve. Above all, our specific technique will help prevent your pinched nerves from recurring. 

Are you ready to get the appropriate care you need? Then, schedule a consultation with Dr. Melissa.  

To schedule a special consultation in our Oakland office call (510) 594-9994, or just click the button below.