Tingling toes on the elliptical?

Purpleflipflops
Purpleflipflops Posts: 563 Member
edited October 6 in Fitness and Exercise
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....
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Replies

  • alapoint89
    alapoint89 Posts: 632
    it does that to me on the tredmill but i keep going. i think its because you are on a moving ground and not just the ground itself
  • abby1791
    abby1791 Posts: 34 Member
    I get the same thing! After 10-15 minutes every single time. And I HATE IT, because if that didn't happen then I would really enjoy the elliptical! I'll be interested to see others' comments on this.
  • andrejjorje
    andrejjorje Posts: 497 Member
    Change the shoes.Try ones with more cushion and sole support.
  • Purpleflipflops
    Purpleflipflops Posts: 563 Member
    I've read some on it, it has to do with either your shoes, or how you put pressure on you feet.... I know how you feel, Abby. It is such a shame. I stop way before I want to because I can't stand the feeling
  • michiganderrdh
    michiganderrdh Posts: 151 Member
    Ditto - try 1/2 size bigger shoe :)
  • annameier8706
    annameier8706 Posts: 417 Member
    This happens to me a lot, and not just with the elliptical. Anything that has me on and off my toes tends to affect the circulation to my feet. Doesn't really seem to affect my performance or anything though.
  • Ireshgurl
    Ireshgurl Posts: 559
    I get it on the treadmill and ellptical. If i can get away with it, I'll take my shoes off while i'm on the elliptical and that does the trick, so most likely it's the shoes. I've also found curling my toes with each step helps make the tingling go away but is also very difficult to do, lol.
  • KriscoOil
    KriscoOil Posts: 305 Member
    It happens to me too and I have tried different shoes. I quit doing the elliptical for that reason!
  • pupcamper
    pupcamper Posts: 410 Member
    We have about 3 different ellipticals at our gym and one of them did that to me too after about 15-20, since I've switched to the other one I haven't noticed it! I wonder if it is the motion of that particular machine because it only seems to happen on that one for me!
  • PalmettoparkGuy
    PalmettoparkGuy Posts: 212 Member
    Not necessarily the shoes, but how tight you have the laces. Loosen them.
  • skateboardstef
    skateboardstef Posts: 164 Member
    Yes, I get that feeling on the elliptical machine! I hate it! That's one of the reasons I don't use it anymore, I switched to the treadmill.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    Not necessarily the shoes, but how tight you have the laces. Loosen them.

    Yup, this is good advice. I bought new shoes yesterday and the salesperson suggested skipping a hole over the highest point of my foot to take some of the pressure off - she says that some of the nerves that supply the foot are on the top of your foot and compressing them can give you numbness.

    So, try lacing your shoes loser, or google different ways to lace your shoes, this might help.
  • colorfulcupcakes
    colorfulcupcakes Posts: 122 Member
    It happens to me at the school gym (all the ellipticals I've tried there), but not at my close-to-home gym (none of them!). I've wondered if it's the settings or something... the angles of the foot petals? I mean, they are the same brand and everything!
  • hyde1977
    hyde1977 Posts: 476 Member
    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!
  • fit4mom
    fit4mom Posts: 1,352 Member
    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
  • daphnemoon
    daphnemoon Posts: 216 Member
    Yup, happens to me on the cardiowave - I read that loosening your shoelaces can help but that didn't work. I just ignore it but I don't often spend more than 15 mins (when it seems to set in) on any one piece of equipment anymore, I go to classes and am moving around so much that it doesn't happen. I think it just has to do with doing the same thing for so long, I remember there were loads of search results on google about it, so you're definitely not alone!!
  • Texas501
    Texas501 Posts: 274
    I spend around 70 minutes on the elliptical, I wear running shoes with a thick sole, I never experience numbness. I have it on the highest resistance as well (10 on my machine).
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
    Yep. Your weight needs to be in your heels.
  • ilookthetype
    ilookthetype Posts: 3,021 Member
    I get it on the treadmill and ellptical. If i can get away with it, I'll take my shoes off while i'm on the elliptical and that does the trick, so most likely it's the shoes. I've also found curling my toes with each step helps make the tingling go away but is also very difficult to do, lol.

    Ditto! I go barefoot on the elliptical all the time.
  • Purpleflipflops
    Purpleflipflops Posts: 563 Member
    Think I might try the no-shoes next time
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Besides bigger size which may have your feet floating around too much, investigate if you need wider shoes actually, because your foot starts to flatten out, and if not allowed to splay out, can pinch the forefoot nerve.

    There are several nice lacing websites for getting around spots on top of the foot, which can be exacerbated by the feet swelling or flattening out. There are also these nice running laces that are stretchy, with a pull cord tie.

    Have to disagree with putting pressure on the heel. While it may be non-impact type workout, putting all the pressure on the heel, when your foot was designed to take the load on the front, is a bad idea. You'll just be taking more of the force in the knee and hip joints, and not spreading it out amongst all the muscle.
    That's actually why barefoot works too - no laces, no width problems, not too tight, and no way would you push your heel in while barefoot - it would hurt.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    Tried everything. Long story short. I have tight piroformus muscles that rub on my sciatic nerves that make my feet go numb when on the elliptical or run. Stretches and massage have worked for me. I use a tennis ball to sit on and do lots of stretches directed at this area. Best of luck. It had nothing to do with my shoes, etc etc. my problems were beyond that. But in the seven different dr I saw I always got an interesting diagnosis each time until the massage theerapist pin pointed it specifically.
  • Thunderrose1
    Thunderrose1 Posts: 33
    I get it too. Started wearing flipflops and it doesn't happen. I do it in my fuzzy slippers too!
  • RahBuhBuh
    RahBuhBuh Posts: 585 Member
    I get it too, but only on the AMT. It doesn't matter which shoes I am wearing. I think it has a lot to do with where I am putting pressure on my feet. When it starts happening I can make it stop by repositioning my foot to the back of the pedal thing. If I put it almost on the end then it goes a way. I figure that since it hasn't killed me yet, it probably isn't a big deal.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    I have tight piroformus muscles that rub on my sciatic nerves that make my feet go numb when on the elliptical or run. Stretches and massage have worked for me.

    I feel for ya. Glad that is the only effect, and not the normal sciatic pain.

    In doing a lot of research on unequal leg length issues, which a therapist discovered I had, tight piriformus came up as very possible side effect.

    Ever been really tested for that?
    And not the chiro version where they lay you down on stomach, bring your feet up, say uneven, and pop your hips. I do use chiros, but I am knocking that worthless process. You can have a real leg length difference, just as most have a real foot size difference, and adjusting the hip to make them look even won't help a bit. Harms it actually.

    I seem to recall the hip rolls up to compensate for the longer leg, causing the piri on that side to be shortened and end of tighter as it assists rolling that hip back and up. Which if you are one of the minority of winners for the sciatica going through rather than around that muscle, you get the pinch.

    Took a therapist dealing with my tri-malleolar ankle break recovery to just off-handed remark one leg was shorter.
    In my research to try to figure out exactly how much without expensive x-ray options, found all these side effects that I did indeed have to varying degrees for a long time, sciatic being one of them. Incredible the recovery from just a little lift. And taking care of numb feet for a longer time. Still hits after awhile jogging or biking, but probably for other reasons.
  • blueandigo
    blueandigo Posts: 296
    That's weird; I stay on the elliptical for an hour every time and that never happens to me. The first time I had to get used to it and my toenail came off. Anywho try different shoes.
  • Kel3369
    Kel3369 Posts: 83 Member
    Wow! This happened to me before Christmas and I am glad to see I'm not the only one this has happened to. I tend to start marching on the Elliptical when this happens and that helps it go away. I also get weird charlie horse muscle spasms in my deltoid muscle when I am on the elliptical at times. Thanks for posting this. :)
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 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....
    Constant pressure on the balls of your feet do this. Sometime lifting your feet off every few hundred steps help.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • bonnt
    bonnt Posts: 171 Member
    My shoes are too big, and it happens to me all the time. Since then I've gotten proper running shoes and I'll see how it goes!
  • CrystalMarie253
    CrystalMarie253 Posts: 128
    Thanks for posting this, it's happened to me on the elliptical and I was like ok what the crap is going on here!? LOL
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