My feet have been going numb on exercise machines since I was about 12. I'm not sure why, but it happens on the stair climber, stationary bike, and most often on the elliptical. It drives me crazy! My poor little toes just go numb. I find that if I get off the machine and walk around for a minute or two, feeling comes right back into my feet, but as soon as I return to the machine, the numbness returns as well. I spoke with my nurse about it and she said the same thing happens to her. I don't think it's anything to be particularly concerned about, but it sure is annoying. Especially when I'm really into my routine and I have to stop to feel my toes again.

Has anyone come across an easier solution than breaking during the workout? I am somewhat flat footed, perhaps this causes it?

I am having the exact same problem! It happens on an elliptical (which makes sense, as many of you have stated, our feet stay in ONE position)...but I noticed it's also starting to happen to me of just 20 minutes of a quick-paced walk, too. It slows me down because the numbness almost turns painful (like pins and needles).

I noticed that someone mentioned the possibility of it being poor circulation - and my mother had a circulatory disease which is hereditary. Kind of put me on alert. Should I check this out? I'm hoping this is just as normal as everyone else's strange numb sensation.

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I have something called exertional compartment syndrome (I know it sounds made up!) It is worse when I weight more, and better when my weight is down. It causes numbness in my feet as well as severe pain in my shins and on the sides of my legs. They get really, really hard too. Basically what happens is all of the blood is pumping down to my legs, and my fasica isn't flexible enough and it ends up constricting the veins so the blood doesn't flow back up my legs (it just all kind of stays down there until I stop the activity). Usually resting for a bit, walking it off slowly helps. At first I went to the local shoe store, and got fitted for a new pair of shoes, thinking shin splints were the problem, but that wasn't the case. It could be that there is just a lot a pressure in your legs and it is causing the numbness or discomfort.