numb feet on the elliptical

This is something I've been having problems with, both on the elliptical and on the treadmill.  Rather than thinking that I had a more serious problem, I kept researching on the internet until I learned that it's really not that unusual.  But it's such a pain!  So here is a link to a webpage with some helpful suggestions.  Personally, I've found walking on an incline on the treadmill to be helpful.

http://www.ellipticalhome.com/elliptical-trai ner-sleepy-foot-article.html

OH man this drove me nuts.  I use a gazelle :D  Switching to shoes with better support helped a lot too.

i thought it was just me! thanks.

that happens to me too, my feet get all tingly and pins and needles like.  it really keeps me from going longer than 30 minutes. 

Yeah, it really annoying.  My feet start to go numb only 5 minutes into the workout.  I usually have to quit before 15 minutes are up.  I don't know if good to continue working out on numb feet.  That's an entirely different question.  I was just bummed, because here I was all motivated to burn some calories and you know... it just gets really unpleasant if you continue to workout on numb feet.

So I was glad to finally find that link.  I *was* cinching my shoes pretty tight at the top.  I was trying to prevent blisters by making sure my feet didn't move in my shoes.  But I've loosened them now.  I've been using the treadmill instead of the elliptical, at least for now.  And it's so odd, but walking on an incline really seems to help.  So I end up walking slower, but on a steeper incline, and this keeps my heart rate at my target level.

I knew I couldn't be the only one out there with this problem, so I wanted to share the information I found.  My helpful friends kept suggesting that I had various diseases, but I didn't feel like I had a health problem... because it only happened on the elliptical... not when I went hiking or at any other time.

I have the same problem, and usually 30 minutes is about the limit I can go.  I have found, though, that if after 30 minutes I change shoes and put on my Crocs, I can go a lot longer!  They are the ONLY shoes that don't hurt my feet - too bad they're so ugly.

WOW this same thing happens to me!!!! I thought there was something wrong with me, so glad it's normal.

wow I have this same problem although it has never been painful.....my feet are just totally numb after about 30-40-mins...lol

I started using my gazelle in Jan, and my footsies would be all tingly after like 5-10 mins.

By Feb, it was after 20-30mins.

Now, it doesn't happen as intensely.  I'm not sure if it's totally because of the new shoes I bought the end of Feb, or if it's just my feet have gotten used to taking so much continual pressure during the workout? 

That happens to my right foot only when I'm on the bicycle machine, think it could be the same type of thing?

whtrose21,

It could be.  For me, it has always been both feet, except once.  That time, only my right foot got numb.  That's when I realized that I was being more gentle with my left foot, because it gets a pain that the right one doesn't.

Also, being able to see my reflection in the window while I'm on the treadmill, I've realized that my left foot is still a bit pigeon-toed, something I thought I'd grown out of ages ago.  So I've been concentrating on using both of my legs equally and on walking with my feet pointed straight ahead.

Maybe you are favoring one foot over the other, and that's why only one gets numb.

It happens to me on the elliptical unless I wear sandles so I can wiggle my toes. It doesnt bother me because my sandles have really good support.  If I wear sneakers my feet are numb after 15 minutes and I have to stop.

This happens to me too.  I've found that if I don't lace my shoes very tight, and tapping my foot periodically really helps.....:)

I know this thread is was posted a week ago but I just have to say thanks for finding and posting that article! 

I was going to post this question out earlier myself but thought people were just going to tell me to see a doctor...which I kinda knew already.

Anyways it is great to know that it is a common thing and that I am not the only one!

Also that I won't need to get my foot amputated either =-)

AWESOME website!  I seriously thought something was wrong w/ me (heaven forbid)!!!!  Even though i get the pains, is it okay just to keeps working out anyways, cuz thats what i usually do.

I'd like to know the answer to that myself.  I sometimes continue on for a while (like another 10 minutes), before switching to another machine.  I guess you'd call that the happy medium.  The thing is, I can't really understand what's causing it.  The articles make is sound like too much pressure on the nerves... or maybe continuous pressure on the nerves.  But I just can't see the harm in overstimulating the nerves... ??  But what do I know?  *shrugs*  I would be worried if I knew that the workout was negatively affecting my circulation.  Like, maybe the feet aren't getting enough blood and oxygen.  That sounds like something you'd want to stop right away, but the articles don't say anything about blood circulation.