Q: I use a spin bike in the winter but have developed what my doctor calls a “hot foot”: The bottom of my foot burns to the point that I can’t even walk. What can I do for this besides pop Advil?
A: This is a very common problem that I’ve suffered from a few times too, but don’t worry: The fix is easy. What’s bothering you is squeezed nerves in the bottom of your foot. Wearing thin socks and using an orthotic, like the Tri-Comfort from Dr. Scholl’s ($11; drscholls.com), in your shoe should help relieve some of the pressure. I’m guessing your real dilemma, however, is that you’re like a lot of cyclists and tend to press straight down on the pedal when you ride. Developing a circular pedal stroke — one in which you push the pedal forward and then pull it backward, not down — will take a ton of weight off your hurting dogs and most likely get rid of your issue.
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Email your questions for Dr. Bob Arnot to dr.bob@mensjournal.com.
This article originally appeared in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.
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January 27th, 2010 at 5:07 am
I have this annoying feeling sometimes.To alleviate the pain I soak my feet in warm water sprinkled with lemongrass to get a relaxing effect. Personally this works for me.
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June 26th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
It seems that the pressure on the feet can really affect those nerves, as a diabetic I know all to well about this.
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