I am not asking for medical advice. As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with me. But I noticed that something strange happens to me when I am exercising. When I use the eliptical machine my toes go completely numb between 15 and 20 minutes after I start. Only on the eliptical machine. This has never happened to me while I was doing anything else. No other types of cardio excercise affect me like this. No problem on the treadmill. No problem on the bike. I have no circulatory problems. The numbness goes away within a minute after I stop. There are no long term or even short term problems after I finish. So, like I said, it is not something I need to see a doctor about, I’m just curious. What is causing this? Does this happen to any one else?
Not that I know what I am talking about, but you never lift your feet on the elliptical, so it is like standing in place for that length of time, which most likely would also make your toes numb.
It’s your shoes. Wiggle your toes occasionally, and make sure your shoes fit properly and are tied correctly. Check that your socks aren’t bunching.
You might have neuromas. I had to stop walking for exercise because my toes would go numb, plus I’d have incredible pain in the balls of my feet. I also can’t wear shoes that put any pressure on the top of my feet – they hurt and my toes go numb.
Last year, I went to a podiatrist and got steroid shots in my feet. It helped a lot and and I can walk more now. I plan on getting another set of shots in the spring so I can do more in the summer.
Thank you for that. I have never heard of it. Another piece of knowledge to tuck in my brain. Although I guess you could barely fit what I have into some of the symtoms, I doubt it. I only have the numbness. No pain. No tingling. It says it can start during aggrevating activities. The eliptical machine is the least aggrevating activity I do. It doesn’t happen when I run. It doesn’t happen when I walk. I have recently been through a mobilization process that included lots of walking in boots while carrying a lot of weight (on top of my 200+ lbs). Nothing.
I wonder if there is a foot version of cubital tunnel syndrome. I used to get cubital tunnel syndrome when I was trying to learn how to play guitar and was practicing too much. The way I was bending my elbow for prolonged periods of time was putting some kind of pressure on a nerve that runs through the elbow and down to my hand, so my pinky and neighboring fingers were going totally numb.
I wonder if there’s anything similar with the way nerves run through the knee and something about the way you’re bending it on the elliptical trainer is doing something similar. Does anyone know?
ETA: Oh, you said there’s no tingling, so it’s not the above. But I’m still really curious about whether there is a leg version of that arm condition.
You can get nerve irritation similar to cubital tunnel syndrome in your legs, most commonly in the peroneal or saphenous nerves.
I don’t know why you get it, but I got numbness in my toes as well when I used to use an eliptical machine. Do you stand a little bit tiptoe on it? I always figured that was what caused it for me.
I’m going to guess the mechanics of the elliptical machine doesn’t allow enough blood flow into your feet. Maybe try looser socks or shoes
You’re not alone. There’s tons of stuff out there if you google “numbness toes elliptical”.
It happens to a lot of people.
It’s a combination of your shoes and how you place your feet. Try to focus on ‘running’ on the heel to center portion of your foot rather then on your toes. Another thing that works is alternating forward and backwards.
Does it have anything to do with the motion driving your foot toward the front of your shoes? When you walk heel-toe your foot is continuously being pushed back into the heel of your shoe. Using the elliptical does the opposite and pushes your foot forward with each step, confining your toes, restricting blood flow, numbness.
I got the same thing on the elipitical machine. I found it was cheap sneakers. I bought some Reboks and the problem vanished
I reckon it’s just a bad position and you’re pressing on it. It’s like any other limb if you press on it continually it’ll go numb
This happens to me too but I have no idea why. I’ve also had it happen that my toes go numb then freeze up and feel really weird and stiff. Occasionally I have to take off my shoe and physically bend my toes to get rid of the numbness. For some reason my big toe is rarely affected.
It also doesn’t always happen with the eliptical…just sometimes. And I know it’s happened in other situations too, but I can’t seem to remember the details right now. Mysterious.
You might look into Reynaud’s syndrome as well. I had periodic foot numbness for some time, and it turned out to be this.
It is rather disconcerting to get off the exercise bike and realise that a really delicate portion of your anatomy is completely numb. It’s just a bit scary for a guy. 
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Thank you. I was feeling lonely.
For those of you who said it happens to you here is an article that explains it pretty well.