Elliptal Trainer causing sore feet...any suggestions?

mrsbrown2k1

HI all,

I am using the Elliptal Trainer at the gym and within 10 minutes the balls of me feet are on fire. I've tried different types of workout shoes but none seem to help with this issue. Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions. I can only last a little over 15 minutes as my feet are on fire. Thanks!!!

rubyrenga

Hi, Sorry no suggestions, but I get that too. Not so much on the elliptical, but when I do other types of workouts. It doesn't seem healthy--they literally feel, as you said, on fire, like they are going to explode! Any insight on this would be great!

Hollycat

The elliptical trainer is my drug of choice. I have a love/hate relationship with it. I absolutely love it for cardio. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to use it the wrong way. I actually fractured my left foot using it... I was going hell bent for leather and 'dancing' on it - I was alone in the gym that day - and I went up really high on the ball of my foot and fractured the navicular bone in my left foot [I am very heavy, so that contributed]. Regardless, if you are lifting your heels high, then you are at risk of injuring your feet...

Now when I use it, my feet are absolutely flat on the pads and I make a concerted effort NOT to lift my heels. Try it.

Hollycat
:flowerforyou:

skibrina

hello! i get the samething. so i found at my gym a different type of elliptical. it looks more like stairmasters, but i seem to do better on that. the ball of my foot is not fun when it hurts. I can usually last about 30-40 min. doing that machine. but i have the same issue. i have elliptacal at home and my reason for not using it all that much is due to that.

BamBam1113

Mine don't hurt but they go numb. I think it's the shoes I wear being too tight, but I've tried loosening the laces and they still go numb.

mom111997

My personal trainer (who also happens to be my partner) said it happens to her, too, and it's normal. There isn't much you can do to fix it, other than lose weight (yes... I wanted to kick her in the jaw when she told me that!). She suggested to me that I split up my workouts - 30 mins on the elliptical and then 30 on the Arc or treadmill. That way you're using different muscles and it's not as uncomfortable. I hate it... my toes go to sleep! She also suggested leaning back a little while you're on it, putting more weight on your heels than your toes/balls of your feet. You might have to hold on to the bars, but at least your arms will get a better workout and your feet won't hurt so much. Good luck!!

iSteakers

i have the same thing. they will be on fire for a while, but on my toes and sides of my feet and then eventually kind of go numb. Its really annoying. I switched shoes at one point which did help for a while. I can usually power through it now.

mrsbrown2k1

Thanks for all the comments. Glad to see I am not alone here on this topic. I will try to lean back more and keep my feet flatter. I noticed when I do use the machine like that the burning isn't so bad and I get a better work out. it's just harder to stay in that position when going at a high rate of speed. Someone else mentioned using the machines that looked more like stairmasters. My gym has those as well. I actually thought they were stairmasters until I saw someone using of them the other day. I will give those a try as well.