Toes going numb on elliptical

I was having a similar issue when I would run on the TM as well as the Elliptical. Solution: loosen your shoelaces! It might seem like the silliest little thing, but we happen to have a nerve in our feet right under where our laces usually get tied, and often too tightly.

EDIT: Just noticed (after I posted) that you already said you loosened them. Sorry 'bout that. Loosening mine fixed it for me.

The only stupid question is the one left unasked! Sounds to me like you are putting too much pressure on a nerve somewhere. Try redistributing your weight so that it's more evened out on your whole foot. Hope this helps!

Try loosing up the laces on your shoes. This will allow better blood flow.

This is not stupid, in fact, this appartently happens to many people. Over the past few months I've seen a couple of posts about it. And, yes, it happens to me too. I tried every pair of shoes in my closet... including my fuzzy slippers.... and still, numb toes. I finally tried a pair of open-toed flat sandals and had better results. I love my elliptical, so I won't give it up.... numb toes or not!

I've heard this complaint often! I read an orticle in one of the fitness mags, and it said it was from improper form when using the machine. Must be looking straight ahead, with back straight and not leaning on the equipment. Shoulders back, abs tight, chest up, blah, blah. To me it's hard enough to the exercise for that long nevermind remembering how to keep each muscle in my body aligned! Shoes should also fit well and not too tight in width. Kath:flowerforyou:

I have this issue too.. I read this in an article.. hopefully it helps everyone.

The major benefit of elliptical training is that you can exercise with minimal impact on your knees and joints. For your entire workout, you won't actually have to lift your feet off a surface and put them back down again. But that's where some people have problems with elliptical workouts. Keeping constant pressure on your feet for longer periods of time will cause them to go numb.

Because you don't have to move your feet or your toes while exercising on an elliptical machine, you can start to feel numbness as early as 10 minutes into your workout due to lack of actual foot movement. This can be a large nuisance for some, for others it's never a problem, and for most it can be dealt with easily.

Some people will experience numbness on an elliptical and others will not--even on the same exact machine. It all depends on the design of the elliptical and if it was meant for you. Sometimes the stride length doesn't fit you correctly, and others you could benefit from articulating foot pedals.

The numbness may not set in until after you've been working out for a long time, or it may set in early but usually you'll be able to identify the onset of the numbness before it feels completely numb. When you start to feel the warning, tingling signals or even way before you even notice that the numbness may be approaching, you can try to move your feet a little bit to prevent or alleviate the numbness.

Prevent elliptical foot numbness

* try wiggling your toes
* reposition your feet on the foot plates
* shift your weight onto the balls of your feet or your heels, or rock back and forth between both
* try not to keep too much of your weight on the balls of your feet
* loosen your shoe laces or getting better shoes with arch support
* change directions by going backward on an elliptical
* use an elliptical with pivoting (articulating) foot pedals

If you notice that numbness is a problem when you use an elliptical machine, try focusing on your feet a little bit more before the numbness even begins to start. Focusing on keeping your feet from falling asleep before it happens, may prevent the numbness from setting in at all. You may be able to prevent the tingling or numbness from even starting if you try to keep equal amounts of pressure on between the front and heel of your foot, while mixing up some minimal movements during your exercise.

If the numbness is something that sets in late in your workout and trying to avoid it or alleviate it doesn't work, try splitting your workout up into shorter time periods, or getting off to take an occasional lap from room to room.

I've noticed that over time, my experience with my feet tingling and feeling numb during elliptical exercise has been concentrated in one foot. But over time, I have been able to almost eliminate the feelings of numbness from my workouts and apply great focus to ensuring that my elliptical posture and foot position is correct. Over time, you too should be able to see a reduction in the problem and if it progressively gets worse you may have another medical problem, such as a foot neuroma.

I've had that problem with the eliptical also, for me simply focusing on my stride and raising my foot just barely on each step seemed to solve the problem. When I was getting tired I didn't pick my feet up off the peddles (treads or whatever they are actually called) and thats when they would go numb.

Happens to me all the time, only on my left foot. Every time I feel the tingles I shake my foot out and it seems to help a little. I hop off every 5-10 minutes and walk around the room and that helps too.

Used to happen to me until I bought expensive runners with cushioning meant for high impact. I also find that if my legs are feeling too tight or my knees start to bug me that using the eliptical backwards for a couple of minutes helps.

Keisha....great response...I was going to reply with similiar offerings of help...but you said them all!!!

I too, had the toes asleep problem, but over time and with correct form, etc...I have no problems anymore...just did 60 minutes Sunday, at level 12 of 16 for 5.6 miles...I love the elliptical...crank up the tunes and I get lost for a while.

I get tingly toes on the elliptical too... and it annoys the crap out of me. I tried bigger shoes, nope. I tried loosening my laces, nope. The only thing that works is going backwards for a minute or two every 10 minutes or so. Works like a charm. :happy:

Someone suggested those shoes with the toes in them. I'm thinking of trying as any cardio machine does this to me. Has anyone tried this yet?

Do less cardio and more weight lifting.

This used to happen to me as well. I went to a running store to get fitted for new shoes. The salesperson told me that my shoes weren't wide enough. I bought a wider shoe and haven't had an issue since.

Good luck!