That’s when your foot goes numb while using a stepper, stair master, elliptical machine, or even stationary bicycle. I paid no attention to that about a month ago, thinking I pinched a nerve sitting too long on the stationary bike. But when it persisted even on the elliptical machine, I got a bit concerned. Of course, I Googled.
There are several possible causes. The repetitive motion could pinch a nerve near the ball of the foot. There could be some kinds of blood flow restriction to the leg from the exercise. And it can be a form of the tarsal tunnel syndrome. What to do? What to do? …
Since these exercises are not new to me, I suspected my shoes: a relatively new item to the routine. I notice this pair is wider, which I thought better for breathability. Good thing I always have a spare pair, so I experimented. The new pair fit snuggly. I can exercise almost without tying the shoe laces. And the numbness stopped.
I surmised that I over-tied the shoelaces to accommodate for the width. That restricted the blood flow when the exercise became vigor.
Lessons learned? Don’t ignore the discomfort and root cause it early. Having a spare pair was a good idea. Stick to the same brand/style of shoes, stop experimenting or bargain hunting.
And I did learn about Stepper’s Foot, really never heard of it before.