Ever returned from a run looking like you've got comedy inflatable hands? You're not morphing into a Michelin man, folks – it's a common, yet not fully understood, occurrence post doing your best Kenyan long-distance running impersonation.

Why, you ask? Well, blame it on your overzealous arm-swinging, heat hysteria, and metabolic mayhem. That's right. You might have thought your arms were just tagging along for the run, but, oh boy, they've been up to something – creating a mini whirlpool of fluid in your hands and fingers with their "I-am-on-a-dancefloor" swinging. Add to that the excessive heat your muscles radiate, backed by your body's poor attempt at playing firefighter - and hello swelling.

And let's not forget the role of dehydration. It's like that meddling friend who just can't keep their fingers out of the pie. It swoops in, makes your body boost fluid retention, resulting in your hands puffing up like a pair of water wings.

Then there's the little-known villain, hyponatremia. Sounds exotic, right? But it's no tropical holiday. Found lurking in endurance athletes, it's a nasty condition where one drinks too much water, causing sodium levels to dip. The body, in its naive attempt to right things, ends up flooding neighbouring areas with fluid. If this villain rings your doorbell, call the ambulance pronto, as it’s a medical emergency.

Finally, cast a look at metabolic changes, the unsuspecting nighttime thieves. They render a decreased blood flow to your hands and fingers. The blood vessels rebel by getting wider and causing localized bloating.

Now before you decide to renounce physical activity, there's some good news. The evidence for reducing "elephant hands" is scarce but suggestible. Non-restrictive clothing, electrolyte-filled drinks, engaging your arms while you exercise and donning compression gloves could be your secret weapon against this unwanted side effect.

Remember, friends, while swollen hands are typically harmless bystanders to your workouts, always pay attention to any accompanying alarms like dizziness, nausea, and headaches. Don't be a tough guy and ignore them – seek medical help.

In conclusion, hand and finger swelling after exercise is a complex conundrum and caused by anything from arm movements during exercise to temperature and metabolic changes. They may be irritating and bewildering but, on the bright side, make for an impressively firm handshake!