I am hoping someone out there can answer a ???

I power walk for 6 kilometers at least 3 times per week and have been doing so for some time. But.... I have never been able to stop my fingers from swelling. I have walked with my hands over my head and let me tell you I get some very strange looks from that. I have tried moving my hands to increase circulation, pumping my arms from the elbows out like a speed walker but... my fingers still swell like sausages.

I have asked the doctors but I just get strange looks and no useful response.

I have diabetes but my general circulation is very good. I lift weights and do yoga. The swelling never appears then. Just when walking.

It takes about one hour after a 6-8K walk for the swellling to go down.

Any thoughts on this one????

I am sure it is not dangerous but it sure is annoying.

Cheers, AJ

The exact same thing happened to me when I was doing a lot of Bikrams Yoga. My yogi said that everyones body reacts differently to different activities, and sometimes increased circulation can cause things like that to happen. Don't know if it helps - but you arent alone!

You aren't alone. Take a look at this article.

http://walking.about.com/library/weekly/aa041998.htm

I do a brisk walk of 3 mi. in about 45-50 minutes and I have to take my rings off before I leave the house, my fingers swell so badly. Sometimes, it's just my thumbs, all fat and tingly or fat and numb, but other times especially now during warmer weather it's all my fingers. So, no, you are definitely NOT the only one.
--jasmine

well this isnt due to walking, but i run.. and notice my fingers also swell up.. i've been attributing that to the blood rushing to the skin surface to give off excess heat.