Clenching hands at night causes stiffness

[elevate]

My second thread and again it is in the Rest forum. I wonder what that says about my training...

Anyways, I have always suffered from stiff fingers even when following all of the advice online. I rest more than recommended, I eat fish oil and glucosamine, I end limit bouldering sessions before I start to get tired and sloppy, I keep cycles of bouldering down to just a few weeks at a time. Despite this, in my 8 years of climbing I have commonly felt a twinge in both ring fingers.

Lately, as I have been using the RCTM bible and paying extra attention I have noticed something especially strange. I'll often find my fingers return to normal within the given rest periods, but then I'll wake up one morning with clenched fists and SUPER stiff ring fingers. There is a brief mention to not clench fingers while sleeping in the book, but no other discussion or threads on the forum. 

Has anyone else experienced this? Have I been using my all-important rest to actually damage my fingers for all of these years?
I saw online that some people recommend using an ACE bandage to attach a tennis ball to the palms, so I'm planning on giving that a shot. Haha, this would definitely be awkward if you are in a relationship. Will update with results.

[MarkAnderson]

Its not in your head--you can definitely hurt yourself sleeping. Amazingly there actually is a thread on here somewhere about proper sleep positions. In short, try to lay flat on your back, with your arms at your side or on your lap, and your hands open. This can be pretty hard for people used to sleeping on their side or front, but it's worth the effort IMO to train yourself to sleep on your back.

[tetrault]

Can't offer anything specific but my sympathy. If I bend my elbows much while sleeping, I wake up with numb hands. So, I wear elbow braces to bed to keep my arms straight. You're in good company. It seems possible that clenching could cause an issue and I don't see why you wouldn't give the tennis ball thing a try.

[scojo]

The same thing started happening to my middle fingers. Before it started happening I noticed my A2s were getting a little sore and in general my fingers felt a little tweaky on crimps. However, if I warmed up properly, they wouldn't hurt during a session.

So now when I wake up with stiff fingers, I see it as a sign that I should back off the crimps for a little while. I don't think sleeping differently would help my particular issue, though.

[kader]

May 22, 2017 14:49:08 GMT -7 MarkAnderson said:

Its not in your head--you can definitely hurt yourself sleeping. Amazingly there actually is a thread on here somewhere about proper sleep positions. In short, try to lay flat on your back, with your arms at your side or on your lap, and your hands open. This can be pretty hard for people used to sleeping on their side or front, but it's worth the effort IMO to train yourself to sleep on your back.

I've been trying for years (not hard enough maybe) to sleep on my back in vain. I can take a nap on my back but cannot sleep overnight in this position somehow. I am totally sure it would improve my shoulders health if i could.

I believe you advised to sleep on your back in the trainingbeta podcast which made me want to get the book. Are there any tips to succeed?

Sorry didn't mean to derail the thread...

[korduroy]

kader - I struggled for a long time trying to sleep on my back. Maybe 5 or 6 years ago, I got one of the ENO hammocks and started using it to sleep on for backcountry New Hampshire climbing trips. I found that using that hammock helped my ability to sleep on my back in my proper bed.

in line with the thread, I recently started sleeping with wrist braces because I noticed I curl my wrists when I sleep. I would wake up and climb with weird wrist pains. since using the braces, my wrist pains have greatly diminished.

sucks getting older

[smoothoperator]

I've had the same (clenched fists during sleep). What helps for me is to train the antagonists in my hands. I do this by using a theraband that i wrap over my fingers so it creates resistance when spreading my fingers. (Hope this makes sense). But there are other products around like the powerfingers or the metolius ball with rubber bands that do the same. Try it!

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[sbleazard]

I have definitely noticed a difference if I sleep on my shoulders or not.

[MarkAnderson]

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