Numbness in the toes can cause pain and discomfort during a workout, and can cause a person to stop exercising before he would prefer to. Numbness in the toes during a workout could indicate a problem with footwear or be a symptom of a foot injury or other medical problem. People who experience numbness that persists, worsens or is accompanied by other symptoms should seek evaluation by a physician or podiatrist.
Poor Footwear
Proper footwear is essential for working out, and worn out or ill-fitting footwear can cause the toes to go numb. Lacing the shoes too tightly also could cause the toes to go numb, explains the Master Runner website, as can shoot that fit too tightly, according to The Foot and Ankle Center of Washington. In addition, shoes that provide little support to the ball of the foot when performing repetitive exercises such as pedaling a bike can cause numbness through compression of the nerves to the toes, and shoes that cause the ball of the foot to experience too much pressure from a lack of support in the insole also cause the toes to feel numb during a workout.
Injuries
Numbness in the toes could mean that one or more toes or the foot sustained an injury. People working out outdoors during cold weather might experience numbness of the toes as a result of frostbite, explains the Foot Care website. A toe that is broken, during or from activity before the workout. also can feel numb during exercise. In addition, injuries to the nerve in a toe as a result of conditions such as neuromas or bunions can interfere with sensation in the toe, causing it to feel numb.
Cardiovascular Disorders
Numbness in the toes of both feet could indicate a cardiovascular disorder. Peripheral vascular disease leads to poor circulation in the extremities and can cause toe numbness during a workout, explains the Foot Care website. According to the Mayo Clinic website, an inflammation of the blood vessels of the legs and foot, referred to as vasculitis, also can cause numbness in the toes. Diabetes, especially if undiagnosed or poorly controlled, also can cause numbness in the toes as a result of damage to the blood vessels of the feet.
Nerve Disorders
People who experience numbness or pain in the feet and toes as well as the hands might have peripheral neuropathy, which according to the Mayo Clinic website often results as a complication of chronic conditions such as diabetes or metabolic problems, as well as from other health issues, such as B vitamin deficiencies and hypothyroidism. In addition, falling or incurring other trauma during a workout could sever a nerve to a toe, which could lead to numbness.
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