If you are one of those who frequent spinning classes or train by riding a bicycle, you may have once suffered from the annoying tingling in your feet and legs. It is like a feeling of pins digging into your limbs that also does not improve over time.
The numbness is bothersome and even painful. But worst of all, it can make your training a complete torture. Here we tell you why this problem occurs and how you can prevent it from happening to you.
What are the most common causes?
Basically, the tingling of the feet and legs while riding a bicycle has two causes: nerve compression or restriction of blood circulation.
Nerve compression can result from improper cleat placement or because the shoes are too tight. It may even be the case that the cleat screw is too long for the thickness of the sole, and is pressing on the bottom of the feet.
Another problem may be the posture you adopt while driving. When we ride the bike, the lower back and pelvis are under a lot of stress and the nerves are pinched, so it is normal for many cyclists to have numbness in their feet.
It's easy enough to know what is causing this problem, so the sooner we locate it, the lower the risk of avoiding long-term neurological damage. Any ignorance towards the nerve is completely negative for it. One of the best known problems is Morton's neuroma , which occurs when one of the branches of the plantar nerve creates scar tissue around the branch when it tries to protect the nerve from compression.
As a result we will have permanent or lasting pain and tingling over time. If you wear shoes that are too tight, you could be increasing the discomfort. Likewise, the footwear that we use on a daily basis (heels or pointed shoes) also contribute to this problem.
On the other hand, the restriction of blood flow can be the result of these problems, although it is mostly related to the improper use of the shoe or to the temperature.
How to deal with numb feet?
The first thing you should locate is the cause of that anthill in the feet, and then we will attack the problem.
Try loosening the middle of your shoes a little, especially when it's hot. This will help keep the foot from being compressed so that blood circulation can run better. Get off the bike for a few minutes and massage your feet. If after doing this you still have the same feeling, the cause may not be there.
Make sure it's your shoe size
Having stiff soles in cycling shoes are great for boosting energy, but that also means your toes don't do much of the work. The toes are not an ornament, so they need extra space to maneuver. The shoes must be comfortable and not exert any pressure.
If you just feel pressure points when you buy them, the feeling will not improve on the bike. It is true that almost all cycling shoes are made of rigid materials, but this also implies that they should be comfortable from day one. If not, it will not be your right shoe.
