Elliptical Sleepy Foot
 

Does anybody else experience this? If so, what do you do to prevent it?

Usually about 15-20 minutes into my workout, my feet start tingling. It doesn't hurt...just annoying that I have to concentrate on wiggling my toes for the last half of my workout.

I loosened my shoe laces pretty much all the way, and that made it a little better...but it's still there.

I always start with my feet towards the back of the pedal, but they somehow end up at the front after a couple minutes.

My shoes are Asics running shoes. Not sure of the model off the top of my head.

Maybe I need better arch supports?

Happens to me on the recumbent bike, but I just assumed it was because I was sitting...

Maybe do 20 minutes, then go do something else for 5 minutes, then come back?

I may start doing that. This has been happening for as long as I can remember, and I have been just dealing with it. It's now starting to become more annoying as I get older.

The Army took all the fun out of running, so that is always a last resort for me.

Maybe you need a wider shoe?

I do 33 minutes on the elliptical and have no issues.

It's most likely not cheap though I don't know exactly how much it is, but maybe see a podiatrist or as said try a shoe that fits better? Last thing you want is foot problems that develop into back problems.

Only time it happens with me is when my shoes are laced tight

+1

--Try a different pair of shoes? :dunno:
-- If possible then have you tried a different elliptical machine?
-- Another tip is to stretch properly before and after the workout.

Thanks guys for the tips.

I am going to go and buy some wider shoes today.

It happens less on the elliptical that you can change the incline. On the flat elliptical my feet tingle only after 10 min.

I am saving the podiatrist as a last resort, because I think it is more a problem with circulation and not necessarily specific to my feet.

I have the same problem and so did my ex. I think it is just because your toes are pushing the front of the plastic and after time it starts to numb/tingle. I tried to keep my feet at the back of the peddle but could never do it and resorted to running because I couldn't stand the feeling

Tried to edit but the site went down it seemed.

Seems this is a common problem

http://forums.menshealth.com/eve/for...71/m/551105422

wear flipflops on the elliptical. :rofl:

Funny you say that. There were a couple sites that recommended wearing no shoes on it.

I bought some wider shoes, and that made a BIG difference. Only my left foot got a little tingly towards the end, but I think my left laces were slightly tighter.

I also make a conscious effort to lift my whole foot off the pedal at the top of the stride. Feels like a slightly better workout, as well.

I never keep my feet flat on the pedals. I move them as if I were running. I also try and keep my feet towards the back of pedal...which means I'm moving feet a lot during my half hour...annoying but they start to slide forward all the time.

I've have had clients that experienced this... but in the hundreds I've had... only a handful

See I feel everyone I know has complained of this. Living with sorority girls as roommates, I ended up hanging out with their sororities a lot and all of those girls liked the elliptical. I swear someone was always bitching about their toes on it.

I have tried flip flops as well but it ended up really crushing your toes

I loosened my shoes a little more, and did 30 minutes today with no tingling.

The shoes seemed to have been a large contributor. It makes the workout much more enjoyable when you don't have concentrate on keeping your toes from tingling.


is300eater- what did you tell your clients, or what did they do to remedy it?

I was going to post that this used to happen all the time with me - after around 20 minutes. However lately I can go 45 minutes with no issues (BTW, I mostly run but do the elliptical once every couple weeks). Here's what changed in between:

I got tendonitis in both Achilles tendons and saw a PT. He said two things - you have the wrong shoes and you are not stretching nearly enough.

As for the shoe, it *might* not be as simple as wider but can't argue that would help. For me, I needed a stability shoe (because I pronate) and I was using a "mush" shoe. So that was fix #1. I know on an elliptical you don't lift your foot, but having the right support under you when your weight comes down seems important. Might be a thing to look into in a future shoe.

Second, he had me start stretching my calves for 3 full minutes (30 sec a side, switch back and forth), 3 times a day. This greatly improved calf flexibility, which has also translated into better overall flexibility in my foot. Personally, of the two I think that made the biggest difference using the elliptical trainer.

I used to wear orthotics for a morton’s neuroma for years. Since I did those two things, I don't need the orthotics any more and the neuroma has gone away. So if you think you have the right shoe, I'd look into how much you stretch those calves.

Thanks. I will try stretching my calves more. I do stretch them, but never for 3 minutes...usually 15-20 seconds per side before and after my workout.

The shoes that I bought were Saucony ProGrid, which happen to be stability shoes. I didn't buy them for that reason, I just bought them because they were on sale and they fit. I guess I lucked out.

Get a wider elliptical machine...

You also might want to get your foot measured again. I just started buying a size bigger as well as wider, this year.

The "more agressive" stretching was just for a time - he had me do it for about 60 days. Once things are loose, regular maintenance should be enough. I do strech them now for a good minute on each side before a workout (after I warm up).

I've ran for 20+ years and never gave two thoughts to the shoe. Always bought Saucony, whatever version was on sale. Never thought that would cause an issue, but it did. Then again, turning 40 didn't help. :smile: There should be some specialized running-shoe stores in your area that can do assessments. Usually means spending $100+ for a shoe however....