Circulation and cold hands and feet: why does it sometimes feel cold and heavy?
Cold fingers and toes or a heavy, cool feeling in your arms and legs are familiar to many people. Discover plainly what circulation is, why some people experience this more often and how movement and connective tissue massage can support a warmer, lighter feeling.
Book a free consultationThe basics
What circulation actually is
Circulation is, simply put, the transport of blood through your body: your heart pumps warm, oxygen-rich blood through your blood vessels all the way to your fingers and toes and back again. Your hands and feet are the furthest from your heart and therefore cool down the fastest. When it is cold, your body also narrows the small blood vessels in your limbs a little, to hold the warmth around your organs. That is a normal response, but it can make your fingers and toes feel cold. Sitting still and tension also play a part. Want to read the basics first on how fluid and blood move through your body? Then take a look at what lymphatic drainage is.
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Hands and feet are the furthest from the heart and cool down the fastest
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When it is cold, small blood vessels contract to keep warmth around the organs
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Movement makes warmth and often gives a warmer, lighter feeling
At BodyFix — specialised in connective tissue and fascia techniques since 2008 — we look at the body as a whole. A heavy or cold feeling in the legs is often also linked to fluid and little movement. Read more about that in our article on heavy legs and fluid retention.
What you feel
Why some people experience it more often
A cold, heavy or tingling feeling in your hands and feet can have all sorts of everyday causes. Many people notice it especially in the cold, after sitting still for a long time or when tense, because their body then sends less warmth to the extremities. This does not have to be a condition, but an understandable response from a body that is conserving warmth. At the same time, it is important to stay alert: if the complaints persist, are sudden or one-sided, or you see a discolouration, see a doctor first. Below are a few common factors that play a part.
Cold & environment
In a cold environment your body sends warmth to your core, which makes fingers and toes feel cold more quickly.
Sitting still
Little movement means less muscle warmth, which can give a cold and sometimes heavy feeling in your arms and legs.
Tension & stress
When tense, your body is more 'on edge', which can intensify the cold, tense feeling in your extremities.
A heavy, cold feeling is sometimes also linked to fluid build-up in the legs. How the lymphatic system is involved in that you can read in lymphoedema and oedema explained.
Do it yourself
What you can do yourself
For a cold, heavy feeling, movement is often the simplest aid: standing up for a moment, walking, moving your feet or rubbing your hands warm puts your muscles to work and gives many people a warmer feeling. In addition, it helps to keep yourself warm with layers and warm socks, to drink enough and to break up long periods of sitting still with short interruptions. Relaxation plays a part too, because tension often makes you feel cooler. This is general lifestyle advice and not a medical prescription — but it is a calm, safe foundation to begin with.
Move
Get moving
Short walks, moving your feet and rubbing your hands warm engage your muscles and often give a warmer feeling.
Warmth
Keep yourself warm
Layers, warm socks and a warm drink help your body hold its warmth better, all the way to your fingers and toes.
Relax
Let go
Tension can intensify a cold feeling — breathing calmly and relaxing can help you feel more comfortable and warmer.
The BodyFix Method
Where massage can fit in
A connective tissue massage is not a medical treatment and cannot medically improve circulation or cure a vascular complaint. What the BodyFix Method does focus on is the connective tissue itself: with a diagnosis-first approach (Bodyreading) we combine deep manual connective tissue massage with machine-assisted lymphatic drainage to make stiff, stuck tissue more supple. A warmer, lighter feeling that some people describe afterwards is a pleasant side effect of that treatment and of moving more, not a medical result. The treatment works best together with moving more and warmth in your daily life.
Bodyreading first
Before the first treatment we read the body and look at where tissue and posture may need attention.
Massage & lymph stimulation
Manual connective tissue massage combined with machine-assisted lymphatic drainage is aimed at stiff, stuck tissue and a more supple feeling.
Complement to movement
The treatment works best together with moving more and warmth in your daily life, not as a replacement for it.
This method was developed by founder Agnieszka Kadula and is carried out by medically trained therapists with a physiotherapy background and 2,500+ hours of training. This information is general in nature and does not replace medical advice or a diagnosis. Curious what fascia has to do with your posture and feeling? Then read what fascia actually is, discover the full BodyFix Method or book a connective tissue massage in Amsterdam.
Good to know
When to see a doctor first
A connective tissue massage works on your tissue and can feel pleasant and warm, but is not there to diagnose or treat a complaint. See a (general) doctor or specialist first with a white, blue or pale discolouration of your fingers or toes, with sudden or one-sided coldness or pain, with tingling or numbness, and with known vascular or heart complaints, Raynaud's, diabetes or another health problem. A doctor can assess what is going on and whether a treatment is sensible at that moment. With that reassurance, you can then look calmly at what movement, warmth and a connective tissue massage can mean for your feeling.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions about circulation & cold hands and feet
Why do I often have cold hands and feet?
Your hands and feet are the furthest from your heart and therefore cool down the fastest. When it is cold, your body narrows the small blood vessels in your limbs a little to keep the warmth around your organs, which can make your fingers and toes feel cold. Sitting still, tension and little movement also play a part, because your muscles then make less warmth. Many people experience this as a normal, uncomfortable feeling without anything serious being the matter. If the complaints persist, are one-sided or you see a white or blue discolouration, see a doctor first.
Can massage improve circulation?
Connective tissue massage is not a medical treatment and cannot cure a vascular condition or medically improve circulation. What it does work on is the connective tissue itself: stiff, stuck tissue can start to feel more supple. Through the combination of that treatment and movement, some people describe a warmer, lighter feeling in their arms and legs afterwards. That is a pleasant side effect, not a medical result. If you have cold complaints that persist or cause concern, discuss those with a doctor first.
What can I do myself about a cold, heavy feeling?
Movement is the simplest aid: standing up for a moment, walking, moving your feet and rubbing your hands warm put your muscles to work and often give a warmer feeling. Keep your body warm with layers and warm socks, drink enough and break up long periods of sitting still with short interruptions. Relaxation also helps, because tension often makes you feel cooler. This is general lifestyle advice and not a medical prescription. With persistent, sudden or one-sided coldness, tingling or numbness, it is best to consult a doctor first.
Does a treatment help with Raynaud's or vascular complaints?
With known complaints such as Raynaud's, vascular disease or diabetes-related complaints, care belongs first with a doctor or specialist, not with a massage practice. A connective tissue massage is not a treatment for those conditions and we make no claims about them. If you have the green light from your doctor, you can then look at whether a connective tissue massage suits you. The benefit then lies in more supple tissue and a pleasant feeling, not in treating or curing a vascular complaint. When in doubt, the rule is always: consult your doctor first.
Curious what connective tissue massage can do for your feeling?
A connective tissue massage does not cure cold complaints, but it can make your tissue more supple and feel pleasant and warm. Want to know what that could mean for you? Start with a free, no-obligation 20-minute consultation. Together we look at your wishes, read the body and explain which approach may suit you — with no commitment. Please note that BodyFix is a private practice that does not work through health insurance and treats women only.
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Free consultation (20 min) included — no obligation
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Specialised in connective tissue and fascia since 2008
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Two locations in Amsterdam-Zuid — Mon to Sat 09:00–19:00
Prefer to call or email first? You can reach us on +31 6 5580 4938 or info@bodyfix.nl. You will find us at Legmeerplein 7 (1058 NJ) and at Haarlemmermeerstraat 115H in Amsterdam-Zuid.