Tingling toes on the elliptical?

2

Replies

  • flisafakto
    flisafakto Posts: 143 Member
    This happens to me too! After almost exactly 15 minutes. I've tried repositioning to my heels but it feels so unnatural. I've always thought it had to do with my shoes though.. That they were either too tight/too long, so my feet kept slipping?
  • nicoleh82
    nicoleh82 Posts: 52
    I used to have this problem. I think its the combination of pressure on the soles of your feet and not changing position much, and circulation to the feet. What I used to do is occasionally lift my feet and put them back down, as if i were really walking... seemed to work.

    Lack of feeling in your feet tends to be a circulation issue
  • Joshmesa
    Joshmesa Posts: 3
    I talked to a trainer when I first started going to the gym. They told me (and many other have tried the trainers suggestion and it worked)...You need to make sure you are pushing with your heals. Often people are pushing on the balls of their feet.

    When you are on an Ellipical you should be able to wiggle your toes......its almost like when you do a squat.....the weight needs to be in the heels!

    It worked for me and many other that I go to the gym with! I use to not be able to go past 15 minutes and now I can do 45 minutes without an issue!



    This is true. I noticed that my toes were going numb but if I switched my stance to where I was using more of my heals instead of on my toes it went away. Also when I switch and start going backwards it goes away because i'm not putting all the pressure on my toes. Try and focus on how you are pushing the pedals with your feet. You will probably notice you are using all your balls of your feet and toes which is making them go numb.
  • LelliAmi
    LelliAmi Posts: 327 Member
    used to happen to me all the time. doesn't any more but i'm not sure why. maybe my arches already fell lol who knows?
  • Kalani2012
    Kalani2012 Posts: 33
    Hey! I know this one! Happened to me too. I caught Jillian Micheals on The Doctors and she informed that the reason this happens is because the shoes are too tight. Your feet swell when you run. You need running shoes like half a size bigger than normal. When I got bigger shoes the numbness went away. Thought I was gonna die for like a month. Yes I am the one who will keep hugging the porcupine till the doctor says to quit doing that. LOL

    Take a look at this link fit4mom hit it on the nose. I use the same shoes, but changed the way that I lace them up and it doesn't happen anymore.

    http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--12334-0,00.html
  • colorfulcupcakes
    colorfulcupcakes Posts: 122 Member
    I still wish I could figure out why it happens to me at one gym but not the other. It's very consistent and would suggest that it's not my shoes or body. :P
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I still wish I could figure out why it happens to me at one gym but not the other. It's very consistent and would suggest that it's not my shoes or body. :P

    Is the machine exactly the same? Select the same levels and grade?
  • nsdjogger
    nsdjogger Posts: 39
    The same thing happens to me. When I use a stair master or elliptical I wear flip flops and that helps a lot. On the treadmill it happens about half the time. When I run outside, I never have that problem, I think it's because of terrain changes. On the machines your foot is stuck in one spot and the TM surface is flat and steady so your foot hits the same spot over and over.
  • 07JKGirl
    07JKGirl Posts: 45
    I have tried different shoes with no success, but when I switched from the traditional elliptical to the ARC Trainer at the gym, the problem went away. I belive it is mostly related to the positioning of your feet and the pressures applied by those positions. Best advice, try a different cardio machine!
  • twinmom01
    twinmom01 Posts: 854 Member
    Yep happened to me - I bought shoes 1/2 bigger than I normally wear - I don't run so having them a little larger in the gym works for me- it allows me to wear thicker socks as well which helps with cushioning when I do squats and lunges
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    It has happened to me every single time I've ever used the elliptical. It is one reason I stopped using it and switched to the treadmill. No matter what I did - it happened. Kinda hard to workout when you can't feel your toes! lol.
  • murraycharlie
    murraycharlie Posts: 37
    i get that exact thing too, but ONLY on the elliptical, regardless of the shoes i wear. i have no problem with this on the treadmill.
  • lynn1982
    lynn1982 Posts: 1,439 Member
    It happens to me every time. I usually go backwards for about 2 minutes after going forward for 10. It helps to restore circulation in my feet... I was told by one of the trainers at my gym that it's normal for those on the shorter side.
  • cbbarge
    cbbarge Posts: 250 Member
    I get it too. Started wearing flipflops and it doesn't happen. I do it in my fuzzy slippers too!


    I'm glad I'm not the only one who wears slippers to workout!
  • wftiger
    wftiger Posts: 1,283 Member
    I had this and asked my Dr. He said it is the shoes. Yours are apparently pinching something. Not necessarily the wrong size just how the shoe falls on the ankle.
  • kristimartiny
    kristimartiny Posts: 62
    It happens to me all the time after 15 minutes or so....even go barefoot, same result...soooo..it must be the way I am standing and using my feet. Think too much pressure of the balls and not enough on the heels. Glad I am not the only one with this problem....is frustrating...disrupts my routine....
  • anasf139
    anasf139 Posts: 101
    Not necessarily the shoes, but how tight you have the laces. Loosen them.

    Completely agree with this. I used to get tingly toes, I tried loosening my laces a bit and that seems to have worked.
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    Hey, I was just wondering if this happens to anyone else? I can only stay on for like, 15min before my toes start feeling numb. :( I've done some research, and I don't think it's something to worry about too-too much, but it is irksome....
    All the time... just lack of blood flow due to the motion and perhaps too tight trainers socks... its normally fine... like getting a dead arm when you sleep on it!
  • ludke
    ludke Posts: 8 Member
    I've also found that going backwards for just a minute can help. :smile:
  • thpeek
    thpeek Posts: 76
    I have a bulging disc in my low back at the lowest vertabre ( L-5/S1 ) and my toes and sometimes even part of my foot tingles and goes numb, my doctor says that is why it happens to me, for me it has nothing to do with any of my shoes. It even happens when I am barefoot.
  • moniquelessard
    moniquelessard Posts: 418
    I get it too. Only thing that helps for me is new, well cushioned socks. Also, I make small foot position adjustments regularly.
  • jnhu72
    jnhu72 Posts: 558 Member
    What helps me is to wear shoes that have mesh toes, so that will I am on the elliptical I can wiggle my toes around to keep the blood flow going.
  • stylistchik
    stylistchik Posts: 1,436 Member
    Have you been to a chiropractor? Sometimes if the smallest thing is out of line it can cause pressure on different nerves. My hips tend to shift at an angle so I get adjusted every few months and it seems to really help with muscle tightness, low back and hip pain. Everything is connected so it might be worth a look.
  • kylashea
    kylashea Posts: 13 Member
    I get this too, but I also get it in the arch of my foot. I get it on any exercise equipment though
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I have a bulging disc in my low back at the lowest vertabre ( L-5/S1 ) and my toes and sometimes even part of my foot tingles and goes numb, my doctor says that is why it happens to me, for me it has nothing to do with any of my shoes. It even happens when I am barefoot.

    I have a bulging disc in the same spot - but it happened to me before I had issues with that disc. I've tried different shoes, different socks, tighter laces, loosening the laces - NOTHING helps.

    I don't particularly like the elliptical (I feel off balance on it), so I don't mind switching to the treadmill or incline trainer. :)
  • Thunderrose1
    Thunderrose1 Posts: 33
    chevy88grl, I also have the back issues. I had that disc removed. I still have the tingling. Same thing, shoes, slippers, flipflops and even bare feet. (which by the way is not comfortable on my elliptical). It is a nerve issue that is different for different people. I just try to ignore it and push on. I change the pressure point on my foot as I work through my routine. That helps a little. But some days are better than others.
  • gatecityradio
    gatecityradio Posts: 401
    Same thing happens to me on the exercise bike.
  • MelissaGraham7
    MelissaGraham7 Posts: 406 Member
    Happens to me, too, regardless of shoes. Although I've never tried without shoes....interesting idea. I can still stay on the elliptical and I do, because I love it! It is about 30 minutes before it happens to me. Anyway, I just hang with the numb toes because I like the elliptical a lot. :wink:
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    i get this too, my shoes are plenty big enough as i wear them for running with no problems.
    i think its to do with the actual machine and how it positions your feet, the gym recently got all new equipment and i had no issues on the old ellipticals, but the new ones give me fuzzy toes and my feet seem to slide right forwards on the plates!
  • OSUloulou
    OSUloulou Posts: 74 Member
    You're probably pushing with the balls of your feet. Push evenly through your whole foot.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories