numb feet

[chiwoman]

After on only a few miles I get numb feet both on my racer and on my mountain bike. Ive had the position adjusted by the guys at the shop but still the soles of my feet go numb. This cant be good for me. Ive tried different shoes and still they go numb. I guess the blood or nerve supply is cut off at the seat? I keep standing up out the saddle to try and avoid it but unless I ride like this all the time I inevitably get the numb bum effect.
Any ideas?

[gilesjuk]

I assume from your forum user name you are female?

Do you have a female specific saddle? only women tend to need a slightly wider saddle.

I would never rely on a shop's assessment of saddle position.

[chiwoman]

yes got ladies racer and ladies saddle and my shop is a specialist fanatics-only set up of guys who live and die for their art so Im fairly confident about their set up.
Looking around on interent seems numb feet is a common problem but cant see any solutions....

[kwackers]

Try different shoes, I find some shoes give me numb feet and some don't. Best for me are running shoes - lots of width, plus they keep my feet cool!

[NUKe]

Are your feet swelling ? try re-adjusting the straps after riding until about the time your feet go numb.

[random37]

Are you riding clipped in?
I used to get that, but now I have open pedals and move my feet around a bit it's no longer an issue.

[merlingirl]

I had numb feet until I moved the cleats as far back as I could on the shoes - now not a problem

[mick skinner]

what sort of shoes do you wear? if you're not using proper cycling shoes, it'd be a good idea to get a pair. if you are using proper cycling shoes maybe up grade to a pair with carbon fibre soles, these will be more supportive to the feet. further more you could try arch support insoles......

[fossil]

i found i was tyeing my shoes too tight
since then i had no probs

[paulah]

i found i was tyeing my shoes too tight

I have to have mine done very loose, much looser than for walking in the same shoes.

[SarahK]

Hi,

my feet go numb in shoes that are done up too tightly over the arch of my foot. Cycling shoes that do up with velcro are the best for me. Can have them nice and tight at the end near the toes and the uppermost one fairly loose. I get numb feet and sometimes cramp in normal shoes if they are too tight- think I have abnormal feet!

Sarah

[Edvardus]

I used to get a numb right foot but after a series of sessions with a chiropractor this went away. Your spine can be out of alignment from birth and people go throughout life with this untreated and as a result, suffer from back pain and other related problems. Until I had treatment I realised that I hadn't been sitting properly and certainly, sitting on a saddle became vastly improved afterwards. Might not be the reason behind your numbness of course, and other people respond just as well from physiotherapy, but it's something for anyone to consider.

[petehenry]

I got numb feet, both sides, when I cycled out to Italy last year. I was wearing Shimano MT418s. The numbness came in every day after an hour or so's riding, and after the first week or so the feeling didn't actually return in my left foot before I started the next days riding. At the end of the trip, it took a couple of months for full feeling to come back into my left foot - and having researched the internet I believe I was quite lucky not to have permanently damaged the nerves.
From what I could understand, the most likely cause of the problem is the nerves going through the tarsal and metatarsal bones in the foot. These bones get compressed together and impact the nerves.
On my research, remedies seem to be moving the cleat back in your shoe (conventional wisdom seems to have this normally placed further forward as it gives improved leverage) and making sure that the shoes are not too tight.
I now have the cleates as far back as possible and barely do up the laces at all. I have just completed a second trip to Italy and while I can't say I didn't get any numbness, what I did get was pretty minimal, not too uncomfortable and certainly disappeared within a few minutes of stopping cycling.
So that is my experience, cleats as far back as possible on the shoe and don't do up your laces more than is needed to simply stop your shoe falling off. If this doesn't work, then I would suggest wider shoes (the only other recommendation I picked up but didn't need).

[climo]

From what I could understand, the most likely cause of the problem is the nerves going through the tarsal and metatarsal bones in the foot. These bones get compressed together and impact the nerves.

Do this test. Get someone to clench your forefoot at base of the toes, the widest part of the foot, in one hand. They may be a pronounced click sound. Next, from the sole of the foot, in the centre of the same area, about 2-3cm from the base of the toes, press up with one finger tip. The foot bones will move & separate.If this looks excessive then see a doctor & get referred to hospital.
A competent bio mechanical podiatrist can assess you and build you insoles which address this issue. They are likely to have wedges down one side and a bump under the forefoot. Works for me.

[bogmyrtle]

If your laces are tight, your foot is being pushed down onto the sole of the shoe which is pretty rigid. Try curling your toes up when you tie your laces. This gives your foot a bit more room in your shoe. As you ride along you can curl your toes from time to time. This lifts your sole away from the hard shoe sole .