The Butt and Foot Connection

I too have had numb and hot feet issues...am beginning to wonder if this is not only annoying, but
possibly not healthy. I am by no means a doctor, but if there is not enough blood flow to your
feet/legs...while cycling, when you want blood flow in those areas could you be in effect "starving"
your muscles of blood/oxygen? Also, is there a difference between cleat placement and spinning
related tingling and numbness and perhaps blood flow related numbness? Some people respond well to
changes in cleat position, stiffer soles, concentration on spinning etc. while others continue to
experience "lumps of wood". As Dave below seems to go in a nerve related direction, could this be a
blood flow issue?(and if so-is it just annoying or could it be damaging?)

"Dave Harney" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

As some of you may know from previous posts, I'm battling foot numbness on my new Volae. I'm
working with suggestions from this newsgroup, making some progress, but still have a ways to go.

I was talking with a guy who works as a physical therapist and he mentioned that most of the
foot numbness problems he has seen are caused by pinched nerves in the butt or back. He is not
a cyclist, so we did not pursue my specifics very far, but he did say the usual clue to a
pinched nerve is general numbness in the foot as opposed to an isolated spot between a couple
of toes. Both of my feet will eventually turn to lumps of non-feeling wood if don't take some
remedial action.

Has anyone else concluded that the problem is more in the butt area and less to due with cleat
position, spinning style, et? Does this theory explain why the problem (at least for me) is much
worse on a bent than on a DF?

I have low back issues, and used to experience numb feet after standing for an extended period of
time. What cured it was prosthetics in my shoes. But they are a back fix, not a foot fix. They
change the way your foot carries the weight, which effects the load on your low back. So yes, a foot
numbness (mine was general tingling) very well could be related to your low back.

"Dave Harney" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As some of you may know from previous posts, I'm battling foot numbness on my new Volae. I'm
working with suggestions from this newsgroup, making

some

Quoted message said:

progress, but still have a ways to go.

I was talking with a guy who works as a physical therapist and he

mentioned

Quoted message said:

that most of the foot numbness problems he has seen are caused by pinched nerves in the butt or
back. He is not a cyclist, so we did not pursue my specifics very far, but he did say the usual
clue to a pinched nerve is general numbness in the foot as opposed to an isolated spot between a

couple

Quoted message said:

of toes. Both of my feet will eventually turn to lumps of non-feeling

wood

Quoted message said:

if don't take some remedial action.

Has anyone else concluded that the problem is more in the butt area and

less

Quoted message said:

to due with cleat position, spinning style, et? Does this theory explain why the problem (at least
for me) is much worse on a bent than on a DF?

Disappointed------I thought from the title that someone had delivered an ass-kicking.

Steve McDonald

Dave Harney said:

I was talking with a guy who works as a physical therapist and he mentioned that most of the foot
numbness problems he has seen are caused by pinched nerves in the butt or back.

To put it simply, I don't think this is accurate. From what my podiatrist tells me 75% of foot
numbness issues, in cycling, running and other sports, are due to Sinus Tarsi Syndrome... which is
essentially a pinched or inflamed nerve in the foot. 15% are due to neuromas, and the other 10% to
other causes including sciatica and diabetes. Of course, to be fair, I have to observe that this may
be a case of all problems looking like nails to someone with a hammer. I know that in my case the
cause of numbness is Sinus Tarsi.

--Scott

--Scott [email hidden]

Freewheeling <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Dave Harney said:

I was talking with a guy who works as a physical therapist and he mentioned that most of the foot
numbness problems he has seen are caused by pinched nerves in the butt or back.

To put it simply, I don't think this is accurate. From what my podiatrist tells me 75% of foot
numbness issues, in cycling, running and other sports, are due to Sinus Tarsi Syndrome... which is
essentially a pinched or inflamed nerve in the foot. 15% are due to neuromas, and the other 10% to
other causes including sciatica and diabetes. Of course, to be fair, I have to observe that this
may be a case of all problems looking like nails to someone with a hammer. I know that in my case
the cause of numbness is Sinus Tarsi.

So, effectively carpal tunnel syndrome for the foot?

Brought to you by the Wild-Assed Guess network. All guesses, all the time.
🙂

-Bill Hamilton

The problem is almost certainly located in or near your feet. "Butt" problems would most likely be
much worse on your DF, and would be noticeable during other activities besides riding. I had the
same problem pretty often until I straightened out my shoe situation. I had Carnac touring shoes,
which have a relatively flexible sole, no laces, and only one strap. Once I got a decent pair of
shoes, Lake ATB in my case [because they make WIDE sizes], the problem occurs less frequently. The
problem with 'bent riding is that when you apply the most power you tend to jam your foot further
toward the toe end of the shoe, which compresses the nerves. Sooooooo, when I put my shoes on, I
make sure that my foot is all the way back in the shoe. Then, I fasten the toe-end straps a little
loose and the shin-ward strap fairly tight. That keeps my foot from jamming forward. It might seem
weird to suggest tightening a strap in order to prevent toe numbness, but that's what works for me.
When I get it right, I can ride pretty hard for hours with no problem. When I don't get it just
right, my feet get numb in about 30 minutes.

The guy who talked to the podiatrist has a good point as well. He's basically talking about the
stress on the tissue that supports the sole of the foot ["plantar fascia"] under heavy pedaling. A
good-fitting shoe with a stiff sole will help keep your foot from spreading out when you stomp the
pedals. If you think that's the case with you, try "pulling" on the pedals for about a minute out of
every half-hour to relieve the pressure on the soles of your feet. That, plus the occasional toe
wiggle, should liven up your feet a little. I'm convinced that the toe wiggle actually serves to
move the foot back a little in the shoe - which is good.

Your problem is solvable. Just keep experimenting.

Peace,

Bobby

Dave Harney said:

As some of you may know from previous posts, I'm battling foot numbness on my new Volae. I'm
working with suggestions from this newsgroup, making some progress, but still have a ways to go.

I was talking with a guy who works as a physical therapist and he mentioned that most of the
foot numbness problems he has seen are caused by pinched nerves in the butt or back. He is not
a cyclist, so we did not pursue my specifics very far, but he did say the usual clue to a
pinched nerve is general numbness in the foot as opposed to an isolated spot between a couple
of toes. Both of my feet will eventually turn to lumps of non-feeling wood if don't take some
remedial action.

Has anyone else concluded that the problem is more in the butt area and less to due with cleat
position, spinning style, et? Does this theory explain why the problem (at least for me) is much
worse on a bent than on a DF?

Here's something I discovered a long time ago. It may be only a partial solution to your problem, but it will sure make your feet feel better.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Part of the problem could be right inside your shoes.

If you pull the insoles out of your shoes, you will see the cleat attachment plate (you might have to remove the moisture barrier sticker if you put it on over the attachment plate). Take note of the shape of the top surface of the plate, screw holes, and of the adjustment grooves in the shoe midsole.

Over the course of a ride, the bottom of your foot begins to conform to the irregularities of this surface (as opposed to the nice smooth midsole found in regular shoes). Turn your insole over and inspect the markings on the bottom!

At the very least this becomes uncomfortable, can be downright painful, and may even cause permanent disfigurement.

Clipless pedal users refer to this as "riding on walnuts," "numb feet," or "hot feet" (and often the blame is not on the pedals or shoes)

The solution to this is to fill the gaps and low spots around the plate with a material such as bathtub caulk. Don't use one with too much silicone (as silicone gets quite hard, adheres very strongly, and is very difficult to pry out of there if you need to). Smooth the surface over very nicely (be careful not to build it up into a lump either). Let it dry overnight, replace the moisture barrier sticker, and voila! No more tingling toes!

Try this. You should notice a difference on your next ride.

That is a nifty solution.

I get numb toes *sometimes* Usually, it's my right foot, which is larger than my left. Almost
always, it's in my touring shoes, not my speedier, race-type roadie shoes. And most often, it's when
I'm really pedalling hard, versus taking a more recreational ride.

To judge by the wide variety of causes for this symptom, I'm pretty sure that those who advocate
experimenting with shoes fit, cleat position, etc. are on the right track. If I had a pinched nerve
or something similar, I'd expect to see the symptoms more often, and equally prevalent across
different shoes, conditions, etc.

Quoted message said:

The solution to this is to fill the gaps and low spots around the plate with a material such as
bathtub caulk. Don't use one with too much silicone (as silicone gets quite hard, adheres very
strongly, and is very difficult to pry out of there if you need to). ..

I had, and occaisionally still have, the same hot foot and/or numbness problem on my trike. I don't
use anything but ordinary pedals and running shoes because I like the calf pump I get while riding
and I needed some calf strengthening anyway. My solution involved slowly lowering the seat back and
moving the seat forward a little (to compensate for the increased seat angle) til I was at a
comfortable leg length again. It would appear that with more weight on my back, the
nerve/circulation issues with my feet are sorting themselves out. For me, it seemed to be a butt
problem and not feet positioning or spinning.

"Dave Harney" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

As some of you may know from previous posts, I'm battling foot numbness on my new Volae. I'm
working with suggestions from this newsgroup, making

some

Quoted message said:

progress, but still have a ways to go.

I was talking with a guy who works as a physical therapist and he

mentioned

Quoted message said:

that most of the foot numbness problems he has seen are caused by pinched nerves in the butt or
back. He is not a cyclist, so we did not pursue my specifics very far, but he did say the usual
clue to a pinched nerve is general numbness in the foot as opposed to an isolated spot between a

couple

Quoted message said:

of toes. Both of my feet will eventually turn to lumps of non-feeling

wood

Quoted message said:

if don't take some remedial action.

Has anyone else concluded that the problem is more in the butt area and

less

Quoted message said:

to due with cleat position, spinning style, et? Does this theory explain why the problem (at least
for me) is much worse on a bent than on a DF?