Why do my toes get tingly when I workout on the elliptical machine?

I've noticed that everytime I workout on the elliptical machine, my toes get a little tingly and numb. Are my shoes too tight? It's happened with several different pairs of shoes! Is my circulation bad?

FIY I'm 23 female 5'5.5" and 165 lbs currently.

It could be your shoes, or it could simply be added pressure on your forefoot, while you work on the eliptical.  If you find your heels up off the platform, which is completely normal, that could be adding to the problem. 

I get the same tingling in my toes during a long treadmill workout, but I've used different types of sneakers.  I don't really know why it occurs either.

That happens for me too! I just thought i was weird cause i mentioned it too other people and they had no idea what I was talking about. No idea why it happends!  Its really annoying though!

yEAH It is totally annoying! I wonder why this happens!?

My mom and sister both get this, but I don't. I move my feet around a lot..just a little bit here and there through the whole workout. It's hard sometimes, I feel off balance while I do it. Maybe you all could try stopping for a few seconds, shake out your legs and feet, then start again?

It happens to me after 25-30 minutes. Usually if I start pedalling reverse and then switch back it goes away.

You're wearing shoes that are too small for your feet, and you also may be lacing them too tight. Also, make sure your socks are not tight around your ankles (if you take your socks off and find a red line then they are too tight.

You are tying your shoe laces too tight.  I had the same problem for a while and loosened up my laces and that fixed the problem.

Ya, you're just cutting off the circulation to your toes a bit. It's pretty normal from I've seen. For me, even though I'm wearing the same shoes, I've noticed that on one elliptical I work out on my toes never get tingly. But there's two others that do it every time. The two that do it have a much steeper "stride", so I'm guessing I lean in on my toes a lot more. I also used to have it happen really bad with an older pair of tennis shoes, but then I got a pair that was 1/2 size bigger than normal, with more room in it obviously, and my toes got better. They don't do it quite as much. :)

http://caloriecount.about.com/forums/post/560 43.html

About 3/4 the way down in this post are links to several threads about numbness and ellipticals and things to help

I've had the same problem and thanks for bringing it up, I never knew so many others had it too!

I got it to stop completely by 2 things.....

1) used a high quality arch support in your sneaker (not something from a drug store, go to a higher end retailer) they cost around $45-$60 each but will last you for YEARS!!!!! no joke i've had mine for 3 years and they still have a lot of life left and i use them in all my shoes not just my sneakers

2) Keep thinking about how your feet are positioned on the pedal, make it a priority to remember to force your heel flat and not let it lift too much (also going in reverse every so often REALLY helps to force the heel down)

Hope this helps

Original Post by netalie2:

It happens to me after 25-30 minutes. Usually if I start pedalling reverse and then switch back it goes away.

 This works for me too!

It's actually completely normal for your toes to get tingly during a workout on the elliptical. It has nothing to do with your shoes, and you are not doing anything wrong. It's because your feet aren't moving, but your leg muscles are working. (I don't know the specifics, but I asked a personal trainer about it). If you just shift your feet a little during the workout, it should be fine.

Thanks guys! I didn't think it was my shoes, because this has happened with several different pairs of sneakers. None of them were too tight!

changing to reverse for 2-3 mins does it for me too

i say its a combo or shoes and your posture/feet. I had the same prob real bad. I bought SO many shoes, then went to a proffesional and they tested my walk and it was the way I walk/my posture. I curb my feet towards the outside unknowingly. Its worse on the ellitical because when I'm putting the pressure on them I'm pushing out. So when I got shoes that were best suited for my feet and worked on my footwork on the machine i noticed no pain and a better work out!

LOL my mom and I get the same thing! I just wiggle my toes around randomly throughout the workout and it'll wake em up :)

The same thing happens to me! I'm so glad to hear it happens to others.  The first time it happened I thought I had a thread from my sock wrapped around my toe.  I have good running shoes and they are not too tight.  Wierd!

and THIS is exactly why I love this site! =) LOL... This happens to my feet too... It used to happen a lot more often, but I've lost 65 pounds now and it's not so much.  I guess my feet have gotten used to the elliptical after almost a year!

Thanks for posting so I don't feel strange!

I get it too!  It is so annoying that I make it an excuse why not to work out!  Ha ha, but yes, the going backwards for a few minutes helps.  I asked my trainer once, he really didn't have an answer, but maybe to shift my weight to the outsides of my feet. So that might help ya too!!