Tingling toes on the elliptical???

jtfish112
jtfish112 Posts: 44 Member
edited October 7 in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone else ever experience this? Over the years, and at my heaviest and lightest weights, anytime I workout on an elliptical, or similar machine, after about 20 minutes my toes start to fall asleep. It's such a great calorie burn, but this is really annoying! I've never run into anyone who can relate.
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Replies

  • jennajava
    jennajava Posts: 2,176 Member
    Are your shoes very snug? I've never had this happen.
  • IggyL
    IggyL Posts: 181 Member
    I'm curious too...happens to me also. I've tried adjsuting my sneakers to be looser and tighter and nothing seems to help.
  • Jill_newimprovedversion
    Jill_newimprovedversion Posts: 988 Member
    I've seen this topic come up before- if you don't get any answers, SEARCH that topic and you might find
    some good ideas
  • Natural
    Natural Posts: 461 Member
    happened to me several times, but i can't tell you why. i thought maybe because i was on my toes a lot instead of pressing down with my entire foot. don't know. it comes and goes.
  • sailorsiren13
    sailorsiren13 Posts: 460
    Happens every time i get on the elliptical. I have gotten used to it over the years my husband says its because i have poor circulation. I don't know if that is true or not but it is annoying.
  • amybrauch
    amybrauch Posts: 250 Member
    It happens to me everytime.
  • nopeekiepeekie
    nopeekiepeekie Posts: 338 Member
    You're putting too much pressure on the front of your feet. Make sure you're using your whole foot for balance and not just your forefoot. If you lean back and put the pressure on your heels for a few minutes the tingling will go away in your toes. :wink:
  • AmyLRed
    AmyLRed Posts: 856 Member
    It happens to me sometimes in my cardio kickboxing class. I assume it is because i am trying to be "light on my toes" so all my weight is there, and cutting off circulation. Could you be doing the same thing on the elliptical?
  • Sandeee
    Sandeee Posts: 53 Member
    Yes, this happens to me and my friends. So if I wear snug shoes, correct fitting this always occurs. I have a pair of trainers 1/2 size larger than I need and there is no tingling.
  • 6mimi
    6mimi Posts: 1,432 Member
    It happens to me too. I actually saw a podiatrist for it. She said it is normal with that machine but did have me to to a nuerologist for testing just in case. I am fine.. I guess it is just the way we put pressure on our feet with that machine. I agree... very annoying.
  • ssmom
    ssmom Posts: 128 Member
    yes...and I don't know why either! I've tried looser shoes and tighter shoes but I think it's form. I tend to bounce a little and put weight on my toes. If I think about it and try putting my weight on my heels the tingling goes away. Best of luck because I know it is VERY annoying!
  • mamabear272
    mamabear272 Posts: 268 Member
    I've had it happen too. It is usually when I haven't worked out in a while. After a few days it stops.
  • BrandiLynn8064
    BrandiLynn8064 Posts: 27
    I have this happen on the recumbent bike, but I don't know why. It's weird!
  • plzlbsbegone
    plzlbsbegone Posts: 233
    This happens to me almost every time! I think that it is because my feet are usually so stationary. When I realize i am doing this and my toes start tingling, I start to stretch and move them and include them more in the motion. With running, your feet are constantly flexing, so try to use those same motions on the elliptical. It's really easy to leave them flat on the platform, but if you move them your feet will feel better! Worked for me!
  • 2bFitNTrim
    2bFitNTrim Posts: 1,209 Member
    I get the numb toes too if I'm on the elliptical for more than about 35-40 mins. I've done some reading on the forums here & on google, and all I come up with really is to make sure your shoes aren't too snug and watch your posture. I've tried both suggestions & it seems the posture thing is the key, at least for me. It's tempting for me to want to lean forward a bit, but if I keep my posture strong, my toes are happier.

    Will be interested to hear what others suggest.
  • OkieinMinny
    OkieinMinny Posts: 834 Member
    I have had this also - what happens is your feet are planted and not moving around - unlike walking/running when you shift your feet - try shifting your feet, going backward more motion - that has seemed to help me....
  • Contrary03
    Contrary03 Posts: 289 Member
    I gave the elliptical up because of this reason~ my feet would fall asleep about 15 minutes into my workout. I do the total gym & treadmill now... no problems.
  • Lindy901
    Lindy901 Posts: 71 Member
    Not saying this is what it is but might give you more info. Try Googling neuroma. I have the same issue. When I walk long distances also, more than 2 miles, I get that and also on the elliptical and recumbent bike. I try to move my foot from front to back on the pedal putting it in different spots. Seems to help some.
  • prbyjennyd
    prbyjennyd Posts: 25 Member
    Happens to me every time like clockwork, but at the 30 minute mark. Thanks for posting, I loved reading the responses.
  • Bella3119
    Bella3119 Posts: 104
    Yes, it happens to me and I have poor circulation. I think it's bc i put all my weight on the toes. When I make sure I keep my feet flat it doesn't happen.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,029 Member
    The reason it happens is because of the CONSISTENT pressure on the ball of your foot. Since you don't get much of a chance to actually lift your feet off and your whole body weight is mostly on that point, it compresses the nerves in that area and causes your foot to feel like it fell asleep.
    You can try occasionally shifting your weight to your heels for a few minutes and lift your toes up off the pedals, then switch back again.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    The reason it happens is because of the CONSISTENT pressure on the ball of your foot. Since you don't get much of a chance to actually lift your feet off and your whole body weight is mostly on that point, it compresses the nerves in that area and causes your foot to feel like it fell asleep.
    You can try occasionally shifting your weight to your heels for a few minutes and lift your toes up off the pedals, then switch back again.

    Yeah, I get this a lot and this helps. If it gets too bad, get off, stroll for 30 seconds or so, and get back on again. But I do what ninerbuff suggests here throughout my elliptical session, shifting about a little, and it doesn't happen so badly anymore.

    Also, do check the fit of your shoes. My old asics used to be a bit snug - a better width fitting has helped a lot with this problem, though it didn't make it go away entirely.
  • jaeone
    jaeone Posts: 649 Member
    Yes this happens to me too! I shift my feet and it does help a little. This is the main reason I don't like elliptical!
  • laurenlind
    laurenlind Posts: 52
    This used to happen to me all the time, and then I got new shoes and tried being mroe conscious of how I was putting pressure on my feet and it got better. Still happens ocassionally, but not nearly as much.
  • MzMiller1215
    MzMiller1215 Posts: 633 Member
    That happens to me all the time! I try to actually lift my feet off the pedals every couple of minutes. I'm not sure why it happens. It's still a good workout, so I keep doing it.
  • Hungry_Tuna
    Hungry_Tuna Posts: 361 Member
    I knew I wasn't the only one!! What gives? Mine fall asleep too!! I have properly fitted running shoes that I got at a running store (tried on 12 pair, finally walked out with the right ones).

    Even my Nike trainer shoes give the same feeling.. and those are great in the gym!

    One thing I did to help was redistribute the weight onto the ball of my foot and that seems to be causing less numbness.
  • lindalee0315
    lindalee0315 Posts: 527 Member
    I used to get this all of the time. This sounds weird, but what works is to lift your toes in your shoes periodically and wiggle them a little bit while you work out. Basically, your toes will touch the top of your shoes and just wiggle them for a second or two, do this throughout the workout and you won't have that problem anymore.
  • redfroggie
    redfroggie Posts: 591 Member
    So glad I'm not the only one! It is right around the 30 minute mark for me as well. I do try to move my feet a bit and wiggle my toes, but I have terrible coordination and just about kill myself when I do this. I love the elliptical so will put up with it. Great post!
  • trud72
    trud72 Posts: 1,912 Member
    this used to happen to me when i first started using one but not so much now try tip toeing everytime you push down it should move the blood around in your foot more x
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    Yes, it happens to me all the time too. I bought shoes that are slightly looser in teh toes and I wear thinner socks. It helps a litte bit. But i got so fed up i stopped using teh elliptical and I do inclince intervals on teh treadmil instead burnd great als and has totally shapped my butt.

    I use a 3.0 pace through out. I begin at a zero incline and increase every 2 minutes to 12.0 or 14.0 the come back down. I weight 215ish and burn about 250cals in 30min doing this.

    Good luck!
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