Ever wonder how to prevent your toes from going numb on the popular cardio machine? Tons of people on Reddit do too. Their main fix: Distribute weight into your heels. We asked Melanie McNeal, manager of physical and occupational therapy at Baylor College of Medicine, to chime in. (Dance your way fit with High-Intensity Dance Cardio, the first-ever socanomics DVD!)
Why does numbness even happen?
Because you're pedaling up and forward and your soles aren't fixed in position, you might throw your weight onto the balls of your feet. This compresses the nerves, cutting off oxygen to your toes—not dangerous, but not comfortable either.
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Does changing your foot stance actually work?
When your heels and toes are flat on the pedals, no one area gets less oxygen, so you can keep jamming without any tingling.
If you've run on a treadmill in your life, you'll be able to relate to these thoughts every woman has had on the treadmill:
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What if that doesn't help?
Check your shoes. Your laces should have a bit of slack, and you want at least a half-inch of space in front of your toes on a flat surface. If not, go up a size to boost space and circulation.
This article originally appeared in the November 2017 issue of Women's Health. For more great advice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!
