Numb feet from elliptical trainer

In article V_wQb.109411$Rc4.771245@attbi_s54 said:

Because of back problems I have had to replace half of my running with the elliptical
trainer. If I am on it for longer than 35 minutes, my feet start to feel numb. Does anyone
have any suggestions for how to avoid this? Is there a recommended shoe specifically for this
kind of motion?

I had similar problems, my feet got a little sore. To some extent, I adapted over time. Either way,
on exercises like this, one can always take a short interim break.

Cheers,
--
Donovan Rebbechi pegasus.rutgers.edu~elflordOpen ↗

Donovan Rebbechi said:

In article V_wQb.109411$Rc4.771245@attbi_s54 said:

Because of back problems I have had to replace half of my running with the elliptical trainer. If
I am on it for longer than 35 minutes, my feet start to feel numb. Does anyone have any
suggestions for how to avoid this? Is there a recommended shoe specifically for this kind of
motion?

I had similar problems, my feet got a little sore. To some extent, I adapted over time. Either way,
on exercises like this, one can always take a short interim break.

you might try a few different stances. I start with my feet at the back of the pedals, and half way
thru the workout, i move them to the front. you might loosen your shoes. push thru your heels, not
your toes. ...thehick

"frank-in-toronto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Donovan Rebbechi said:

In article V_wQb.109411$Rc4.771245@attbi_s54 said:

Because of back problems I have had to replace half of my running with

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

elliptical trainer. If I am on it for longer than 35 minutes, my feet

start

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to feel numb. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to avoid this?

Is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

there a recommended shoe specifically for this kind of motion?

I had similar problems, my feet got a little sore. To some extent, I

adapted

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

over time. Either way, on exercises like this, one can always take a

short

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

interim break.

you might try a few different stances. I start with my feet at the back of the pedals, and half
way thru the workout, i move them to the front. you might loosen your shoes. push thru your heels,
not your toes. ...thehick

just out of interest, are you using a heart rate monitor when on the elliptical? - just curious to
see how ellipticals give you an efficient cardio workout.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 01:55:16 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

<original question snipped>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you might try a few different stances. I start with my feet at the back of the pedals, and half
way thru the workout, i move them to the front. you might loosen your shoes. push thru your
heels, not your toes. ...thehick

just out of interest, are you using a heart rate monitor when on the elliptical? - just curious to
see how ellipticals give you an efficient cardio workout.

i sometimes do. sometimes i don't. depending on whether i'm doing an easy day or a hard day, i
might need info. if i'm doing intervals, i want my heart rate to peak and then come down during my
recovery time. so, i might wear my HRM then. but really, after a while, you get to know what heart
rate you're at. you learn your body. so, yes, i suggest wearing the HRM quite a few times. until
you learn what happens inside given certain stresses. then you won't need it so much. however, if
you want to be one of those that select the "cardio" or "fat burn" programs, you may have to wear
it so the machine can adjust to you. i don't do those and really have little interest in them right
now. i only use the elliptical for cross-training. since i still can run, i am. as for the question
of "does it give a good cardio workout"? well, everything is specific to what you are doing.
working out on the elliptical will let you get pretty good...at working out on the elliptical. it
won't do much for running. or digging ditches. or shovelling snow. you need to pick a goal. and
work towards it.

...thehick

"frank-in-toronto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 01:55:16 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]> wrote:

<original question snipped>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you might try a few different stances. I start with my feet at the back of the pedals, and half
way thru the workout, i move them to the front. you might loosen your shoes. push thru your
heels, not your toes. ...thehick

just out of interest, are you using a heart rate monitor when on the elliptical? - just curious
to see how ellipticals give you an efficient cardio workout.

i sometimes do. sometimes i don't. depending on whether i'm doing an easy day or a hard day, i
might need info. if i'm doing intervals, i want my heart rate to peak and then come down during my
recovery time. so, i might wear my HRM then. but really, after a while, you get to know what heart
rate you're at. you learn your body. so, yes, i suggest wearing the HRM quite a few times. until
you learn what happens inside given certain stresses. then you won't need it so much. however, if
you want to be one of those that select the "cardio" or "fat burn" programs, you may have to wear
it so the machine can adjust to you. i don't do those and really have little interest in them
right now. i only use the elliptical for cross-training. since i still can run, i am. as for the
question of "does it give a good cardio workout"? well, everything is specific to what you are
doing. working out on the elliptical will let you get pretty good...at working out on the
elliptical. it won't do much for running. or digging ditches. or shovelling snow. you need to pick
a goal. and work towards it.

...thehick

thanks - I had used an elliptical recently and found it difficult to get my heart rate up when
compared say to a treadmill and just wondering about others experience - there is something about
the way the legs work and that there is no impact that doesn't seem to give much of a pump - and
there is too much strain on the hip flexors when working hard enough to get your heart rate elevated
to somewhere around my target range.

David

Don't take advice from this dummy unless it's about dainty treadmill jogging.

Donovan Rebbechi <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 02:21:02 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>
wrote:

<old stuff snipped>

Quoted message said:

thanks - I had used an elliptical recently and found it difficult to get my heart rate up when
compared say to a treadmill and just wondering about others experience - there is something about
the way the legs work and that there is no impact that doesn't seem to give much of a pump - and
there is too much strain on the hip flexors when working hard enough to get your heart rate
elevated to somewhere around my target range.

I don't see hardly any hip flexor action. you don't pull your legs forward. the leading leg
pushes down. the lower you squat, the more the hams and glutes get into it. i use the life
fitness elliptical where the arms are involved also. recently, a basically newbie worked out with
me and the only muscles that hurt the next day were in her back. impact doesn't raise your heart
rate. perhaps you're not trying hard enough on the elliptical, or perhaps, again, you're trying
to get your heart rate too high. IIRC you said you couldn't run so much because of bad knees...
well then, you better figure out the elliptical. or the rower. bikes would be my last choice for
a cardio workout unless i was interested in becoming a better biker on the street. ...thehick

No, I do not use a heart rate monitor but I push as hard as I really feel I can when I am on it. I
watch the METS which change depending on how hard I push and I know my range...anything above 7.0 is
good. I sweat like crazy and my body fat is already so low that losing weight is not a goal. I swim
many miles each week (i.e. not monitor) so I have learned to judge what "hard" is for me. When I
first used the trainer and put my hands on the moving bars, my arms would actually ache if I tried
running a few days later...as though they were out of shape. I never realized how important the arm
swinging motion of free running was. So now, I do not hold onto the bars; I swing my arms free as I
use the trainer (it took some practice to balance well enough to do this while moving hard ---now
second nature to me).

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8mFQb.26575$Wa.24966@news-
server.bigpond.net.au...

Quoted message said:

"frank-in-toronto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Donovan Rebbechi said:

In article <V_wQb.109411$Rc4.771245@attbi_s54>, MSEagan wrote:
> Because of back problems I have had to replace half of my running

with

Quoted message said:

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> elliptical trainer. If I am on it for longer than 35 minutes, my feet

start

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> to feel numb. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to avoid this?

Is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> there a recommended shoe specifically for this kind of motion?

I had similar problems, my feet got a little sore. To some extent, I

adapted

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

over time. Either way, on exercises like this, one can always take a

short

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

interim break.

you might try a few different stances. I start with my feet at the back of the pedals, and half
way thru the workout, i move them to the front. you might loosen your shoes. push thru your
heels, not your toes. ...thehick

just out of interest, are you using a heart rate monitor when on the elliptical? - just curious to
see how ellipticals give you an efficient cardio workout.

"MSEagan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:eyRQb.116018$5V2.583476@attbi_s53...

Quoted message said:

No, I do not use a heart rate monitor but I push as hard as I really feel

I

Quoted message said:

can when I am on it. I watch the METS which change depending on how hard I push and I know my
range...anything above 7.0 is good. I sweat like crazy and my body fat is already so low that
losing weight is not a goal. I swim many miles each week (i.e. not monitor) so I have learned to
judge what "hard" is for me. When I first used the trainer and put my hands on the moving bars, my
arms would actually ache if I tried running a few days later...as though they were out of shape. I
never realized how important the arm swinging motion

of

Quoted message said:

free running was. So now, I do not hold onto the bars; I swing my arms

free

Quoted message said:

as I use the trainer (it took some practice to balance well enough to do this while moving hard
---now second nature to me).

thanks, I take your point as you know your body and if you are getting a good cardio workout you
don;t need a monitor - for some reason I had a problem gettting to that stage on an elliptical when
your heart/lungs are really going. And yes arm movement is so important -

Quoted message said:

"David" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:8mFQb.26575$Wa.24966@news-
server.bigpond.net.au...

Quoted message said:

"frank-in-toronto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sat, 24 Jan 2004 23:32:39 +0000 (UTC), Donovan Rebbechi <[email hidden]> wrote:

>In article <V_wQb.109411$Rc4.771245@attbi_s54>, MSEagan wrote:
>> Because of back problems I have had to replace half of my running

with

Quoted message said:

the

Quoted message said:

>> elliptical trainer. If I am on it for longer than 35 minutes, my

feet

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

start

Quoted message said:

>> to feel numb. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to avoid

this?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Is

Quoted message said:

>> there a recommended shoe specifically for this kind of motion?
>
>I had similar problems, my feet got a little sore. To some extent, I

adapted

Quoted message said:

>over time. Either way, on exercises like this, one can always take a

short

Quoted message said:

>interim break.
you might try a few different stances. I start with my feet at the back of the pedals, and
half way thru the workout, i move them to the front. you might loosen your shoes. push thru
your heels, not your toes. ...thehick

just out of interest, are you using a heart rate monitor when on the elliptical? - just curious
to see how ellipticals give you an efficient cardio workout.

"frank-in-toronto" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 02:21:02 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]> wrote:

<old stuff snipped>

Quoted message said:

thanks - I had used an elliptical recently and found it difficult to get

my

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

heart rate up when compared say to a treadmill and just wondering about others experience - there
is something about the way the legs work and

that

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

there is no impact that doesn't seem to give much of a pump - and there

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

too much strain on the hip flexors when working hard enough to get your heart rate elevated to
somewhere around my target range.

I don't see hardly any hip flexor action. you don't pull your legs forward. the leading leg
pushes down. the lower you squat, the more the hams and glutes get into it. i use the life
fitness elliptical where the arms are involved also. recently, a basically newbie worked out
with me and the only muscles that hurt the next day were in her back. impact doesn't raise your
heart rate. perhaps you're not trying hard enough on the elliptical, or perhaps, again, you're
trying to get your heart rate too high. IIRC you said you couldn't run so much because of bad
knees... well then, you better figure out the elliptical. or the rower. bikes would be my last
choice for a cardio workout unless i was interested in becoming a better biker on the street.
...thehick

thanks, I take your points - so hard to find the right thing to get your heart going and yet not to
get injuries - I will keep at it - yes I guess the back could be an issue if you are twisting your
upper body with the arm movements - I was told to do more stretching to try to avoid injuries -
thanks for the tips about using the ellipticals

loosen your laces

"MSEagan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<eyRQb.116018$5V2.583476@attbi_s53>...

Quoted message said:

No, I do not use a heart rate monitor but I push as hard as I really feel I can when I am on it. I
watch the METS which change depending on how hard I push and I know my range...anything above 7.0
is good. I sweat like crazy and my body fat is already so low that losing weight is not a goal. I
swim many miles each week (i.e. not monitor) so I have learned to judge what "hard" is for me.
When I first used the trainer and put my hands on the moving bars, my arms would actually ache if
I tried running a few days later...as though they were out of shape. I never realized how
important the arm swinging motion of free running was. So now, I do not hold onto the bars; I
swing my arms free as I use the trainer (it took some practice to balance well enough to do this
while moving hard ---now second nature to me).

Swinging the arms freely is a trick I had reserved for "pros" like myself, but since you spilled the
beans to the whole NG, I will admit it and endorse it. TheBillRodgers has spoken.

Send me an avi of you on it in the nude, so i can judge your form. Then we'll talk, and talk,
and talk...

"MSEagan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<V_wQb.109411$Rc4.771245@attbi_s54>...

Quoted message said:

Because of back problems I have had to replace half of my running with the elliptical
trainer. If I am on it for longer than 35 minutes, my feet start to feel numb. Does anyone
have any suggestions for how to avoid this? Is there a recommended shoe specifically for this
kind of motion?

Thanks. Marianne

WHO WAS IT, THREATENED THE PRESIDENT?

WHO ADVOCATED AID TO TERRORISTS?

YEP, our own BILL DAVIDSON, just one day after the 9-11 attack, while the victims were
still burning.
___________________________________________________
"we should bomb that pathetic excuse for a man too, or at least give his location to every terrorist
group we can find, and let them take him out. Just what we need in the white house, a coked-up
dopehead running the country".

From: MrRobotTow ([email hidden]) Subject: Re: The Only Thing Newsgroups:
rec.music.makers.bagpipe Date: 2001-09-12 03:00:32 PST

groups.google.comgroupsOpen ↗
8&selm=20010912055959.21715.00001917%40mb-fi.aol.com&rnum=3
___________________________________________________

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THERE'S YER ANTISOCIAL NUT CASE, RIGHT THERE! COULD BE another John Hinckley. Check him out!

This US citizen publicly called for AID to TERRORISTS: IS HIS NAME ON YOUR LIST? Check him out!

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Will Bill's own words amuse him as much as they amuse us? WILL THEY AMUSE OTHERS? Let's find out.
Let's be sure BILL gets the attention he deserves and craves.

COPY, PASTE, REPLY to our TROLL. IT'S THAT EASY

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 01:55:16 GMT, "David" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

just out of interest, are you using a heart rate monitor when on the elliptical? - just curious to
see how ellipticals give you an efficient cardio workout.

Not to hard to get your heart rate up if you push it, but like running I'm sure it will take time
to build up to that level where you can maintain it for long. I can easily get my heart rate up
into the 90% range and hold it there during a run, but on an eliptical (which I only tried once) I
could get my heart rate up to the same level but had to stop after a short time as my muscles were
getting too tired.

The best way I can describe the feeling was that I was trying to jog on a stairclimber. 🙂

--
"The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all
its contents." - H.P. Lovecraft