# Why do my toes "curl" with pleasure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458 "2003-01-28T12:02:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tblue)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/1 "2003-01-28T12:02:15Z")
A friend of mine pointed it out to me, when I was eating. He said: “You must really like that - your toes are curling!” Yes, I was really enjoying the taste (rich chocolate icecream! Mmm!) - but why heckity would that make my toes curl? I’ve noticed it on other pleasurable occasions since. (I don’t think it’s a conscious action.) So what is this? Some primordial reflex? A lingering “baby” behaviourism? Is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/2 "2003-01-28T12:57:08Z")
I had an incredibly tacky Environmental Sciences prof - who spent his off hours scamming on co-eds - proclaim that one’s toes curl during orgasm due to the genetic primate memory of needing to hold on to something when having sex in a tree. No, I am not kidding. No, I don’t know if it is true. And no, I don’t know if sharing that “fact” got him in with the co-eds… ---
**Author:** ![Lagged2Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ac8455/32.png) [@Lagged2Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lagged2Death)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/3 "2003-01-28T14:12:41Z")
But it’s not everyone either. I know someone whose toes curl in response to sensual pleasures as you describe, but mine don’t. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/4 "2003-01-30T01:29:01Z")
I’ve found that if I curl my toes about 100 times, I start to feel a pleasurable sensation in my groin. No explanation, but it’s interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/5 "2003-01-30T01:33:11Z")
Ooooh, you’re so _bad_, **ultrafilter**! Trying to get hundreds of dopers to curl until their feet cramp up! Shame! ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/6 "2003-01-30T01:34:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*Ooooh, you’re so _bad_, **ultrafilter**! Trying to get hundreds of dopers to curl until their feet cramp up! Shame! \*\* Well… That’s an unintended possible benefit. 😉 Nonetheless, I was being entirely serious when I wrote that. Any idea what’s going on? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/7 "2003-01-30T01:59:22Z")
Endorphins. That’s my one size fits all answer for oddball physiology questions. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/8 "2003-01-30T02:04:00Z")
Let’s stop, my toes are getting tired. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/9 "2003-01-30T02:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ultrafilter \* > \*\*I’ve found that if I curl my toes about 100 times, I start to feel a pleasurable sensation in my groin. No explanation, but it’s interesting. \*\* Wow, I get a pleasurable sensation in my groin after about 3 curls. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/10 "2003-01-30T02:23:39Z")
I just get a foot cramp. No fair. ---
**Author:** ![Essured](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Essured](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Essured)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/11 "2003-01-30T02:31:32Z")
Mr Goo and I have wondered about this often. I don’t do it at all, but he does it regularly. Particularly when he’s getting very close to an orgasm. ---
**Author:** ![BeatenMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ab097/32.png) [@BeatenMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeatenMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/12 "2003-01-30T03:30:05Z")
T.G.I.F Toes go in first. When you really get turned on do you get hammer toe? If you are gay do you get bunions? Must be from all the “This little piggie went to.”. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/13 "2003-01-30T03:40:52Z")
My toes splay when…um. Yeah. Go ahead and 'splain THAT one, Dr. Endorphin Man. Um. Bye. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-my-toes-curl-with-pleasure/151458/14 "2003-01-30T19:42:22Z")
Is this reflex related at all to the “kneading” reflex of cats? (i.e., adult cats often flex their paws when being petted, etc., in theory b/c the same kneading paw movements of kittens against the mother cat’s belly increases lactation). Here, first link I found: [http://www.planetpet.com/cats.htm](http://www.planetpet.com/cats.htm) > [@](#): > > Why does my cat knead? > When my cat comes and gets on my lap, he frequently extends his claws, digging them into my thigh with an alternating rhythmic motion. I call this rather painful ritual the “happy dance,” but most people know this behavior as “kneading.” Kneading is a behavior that is a remnant from kittenhood. It is sometimes called “milk tread” because it is done during nursing. As the kitten suckles at the mother’s teat, it extends its legs and performs this kneading motion on the area around the teat. > \_ > Dr. Heine says, “Kneading the breast promotes faster flow of milk”; therefore, this behavior is often used when milk is not flowing from the teat as fast as the animal can drink. It is speculated that as adults, the behavior is continued as a form of comfort when the animal is feeling safe and happy, so the next time your cat does the “happy dance” for you, remember that he may be associating the comfort and happiness that he gets from you with happy memories of time with his mother. So keep that in mind next time you’re … um … doing the “happy dance.”