Numbness or burning of the feet is most commonly caused by compression of the nerves between the metatarsals (small bones under the ball of the foot). The most common causes are:
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Quick fixes might include:
Q.I started cycling about 3 months ago. In those 3 months I have racked up 593
miles. I ride almost everyday. I just completed 31 yrs but in good shape
(thanks to the Marines). On the last ride (45 Miles) I did a few days ago at less than a
few hundred yards away from reaching home I experienced a severe pain on the outer
side of my right foot; it was so painful I couldn't walk. I took a couple pain meds
and soaked it in hot water. I have rested now for two days but I still feel soreness
when I put pressure on it. Should I be concerned? this is my average distance and I
have experienced numbness when I first started but nothing like this. I have also
completed an 80 mile ride in about 3hrs and didn't feel this type of pain.
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Ed.
A.My suspicion is that this is a combination of several issues. First, the numbness that you noticed suggests that your shoes may not fit as well as they might, or that the way your sole hits the shoe is putting pressure on one of the plantar nerves. Hot foo/numb foot is a common problem for some cyclists, and can occur even with good fitting shoes - being related to how the pressure of pedalling is distributed across the bottom of your foot. Add in poorly fitting shoes or a foot that needs an insert or custom footbeds to even out the pressure and you are on your way. And it sounds as if you have a fairly aggressive training program (remember the 10% per week increase in training per week that I mentioned as being the best to minimize overuse injuries?) and the problem is aggravated. Back off a little on the riding and consider an insert (custom or otherwise). Let me know what happens.
The position of your cleats on your cycling shoes determines the comfort of your feet, ankles, knees, hips and back. Once you clip into your pedals, the path that your leg "tracks" during the pedal stroke is locked in, and misaligned cleats send stress up from your foot up your leg to your low back with every pedal stroke.
"When mounting cleats, you want your feet to feel straight when clipped into the pedals," says Sean Drake, an exercise physiologist who works with the U.S. National Triathlon and Cycling Teams. "When setting fore-aft cleat position, the ball of your foot should be directly over the pedal axle." Cleats positioned too far forward on the shoe will generate excessive ankle movement, and can cause in Achilles strain.
Side-to-side adjustment is based on personal preference - usually, the narrower stance, the better, but start somewhere in the middle and see what feels right. Make sure there is minimal yet adequate clearance between crank arm and your shoe. Too far away is awkward, and if the shoe touches the crank it will eventually wear a grove there.
Everyone has a natural angle that each of their feet prefers to be at. Some are duck-footed, some are pigeon-toed. When you walk or ride without cleats, your foot assumes this angle. It is important that the cleat is adjusted so as to permit your foot to be at its natural angle. This is less of an issue if you ride pedals with "float" (limited rotational freedom) in the cleat attachment. Most newer clipless pedals offer at least some float.
It may take some time to find the ideal cleat position. Initially go for easy rides to check the position and ensure it's right for your knees. If you feel any stress or strain, change the angle slightly to eliminate discomfort. The rule-of-thumb is to continue adjusting your cleats until you feel no torsional, or "twisting," stress in your leg as you pedal. Listen to your body.
For optimum cleats positioning, you can visit a bicycle shop that utilizes The RAD, or Rotational Adjustment Device. This tool is widely regarded as one of the most reliable methods for setting the cleat position on the cycling shoe allowing for the rider's natural gait.
For additional thoughts on cleat postioning see the section on knee pain.
COLD FEET
Being the farthest parts from your "core" and with a long leg to allow the blood to cool, feet can be hard to keep warm on cold day's ride. Two simple things you can do on any ride to keep them just a little warmer. First, periodically pull up on your pedal stroke. This lifts your feet inside your shoes and relieves pressure on the soles allowing warm blood to circulate. Just a few strokes will help. Second, if things are going downhill fast, walk your bike for a minute. Same idea - a change in pressure on the sole of the foot allows better circulation.