Discussion Probably a stupid question.. Curling my toes at the gym grrr..

[Nate-X]

May be odd.. whenever I'm on a stationary bike I curl the toes on my left foot like a damn eagle clutching a fish. I've just started going back so not sure if it's just a matter of getting used to things again or from crappy shoes not offering the support I need or what. I don't do it on my right foot. Just my left. Still breaking in a new pair of shoes so that may be it too. Also noticed on the treadmill the pinky toe and the one right next to it will start to overlap while I'm walking which gets a little painful after a while. Again. No problem with my right foot. I'm thinking I just need to find a better, more comfortable foot option but have no clue where to start. I'm mainly going to work on the cardio machines and do some weights training on the machines as well. It's been forever ago since I've been to the gym so a little heftier. About 225 and 5'11 and out of shape and don't want to let something like this keep me from getting back into the swing of things. Sorry if this has been posted and my search skills just suck. :/

 

[deadlyapp]

I don't see what your shoe should have to do with it, especially on something like a bike. On a treadmill, yes your footwear can be very important as you want to make sure the shoe isn't too small and allows your toes to splay out as much as possible while also giving the right amount of drop and stability depending on your walking/running style.

Take off your shoes when you use the stationary bike - are you still curling your toes? Can you recognize and relax your feet consciously to avoid it? If not, you might have an underlying physical issue eg pinched nerve or affected tendon etc.

Change your foot position on the bike, if you normally pedal more on your heel/midfoot, shift down a bit and go more on your forefoot.