Curling toes: When I do aerobic exercise... - Cure Parkinson's

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Curling toes

tacato profile image
15 Replies

When I do aerobic exercise, be it on a stationary bike, fast walking on a treadmill or on an elliptical, I induce a contraction of the toes on my left foot (l am left side affected, btw). This problem doesn’t arise otherwise. Sometimes I can work it out but often I cannot. This is preventing me from doing intense exercise that is recommended these days. Does anyone else have this problem, and have you found a way to overcome it? Thanks in advance!

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tacato profile image
tacato
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15 Replies
Kia17 profile image
Kia17

I had exactly the same issue on my left toes when pedal or walk fast. Now I have much less than few months ago.

Check this post for more info;

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Thiamine hcl and magnesium helped me alot.

tacato profile image
tacato in reply toKia17

Thank you!

park_bear profile image
park_bear

When I get this out hiking I go barefoot for a stretch and that helps.

jrg54321 profile image
jrg54321 in reply topark_bear

I found this helped me a couple of days ago on the stationary bike. I took off my shoe and the curling stopped. I have to repeat to see if it works again because sometimes just taking a quick break makes it stop.

tacato profile image
tacato

I can stretch it out too but it usually comes back in a couple minutes.

Roch369 profile image
Roch369

My boyfriend who has pd left foot toes are curled in now and get very stiff— you can’t even separate them when they stiffen up.

rebtar profile image
rebtar

Exact same problem, left side. I found that I can do the stair stepper without toe curling most of the time, and get an intense cardio workout. I can also hike with Vibram five finger shoes, the kind with separated toes, it seems the contact with the ground and the foot less restricted helps. I now wear the Vibrams to the gym as well. Barefoot at home. This is gradually getting worse and I guess at some point I'll need a different solution but for now this allows me to exercise.

DEAT profile image
DEAT

The same thing happens to me. Left side affected and left toes curl under.

Phusson profile image
Phusson

My right side is affected but when I get to around 10 minutes into recumbent bike the left foot toes start to curl. When I walk my right foot sometimes curls in and my Dr. prescribed Amantadine and that helps.

GymBag profile image
GymBag

Same situation left toes curl and cramp but right side also sometimes. I can usually continue using my stationary bike. I am taking 3 Amantadine a day , with seemingly no effect on the toes. Most bothersome as it has the potential to put me in a wheel chair. Bare foot (Bear foot ) is inconvenient here in winter but I will give it another try and I am looking up VIBRAM five finger shoes now.

Vibram five finger shoes

Canada: ca.vibram.com/shop/fivefing...

USA : us.vibram.com/shop/fivefing...

UK : uk.vibram.com/

change to your country top right at website

Any recommendation on which models are best ??

Ratzkywatzky profile image
Ratzkywatzky

Happens when I run, sometimes I can run through it and it goes away again, had some luck with some high powered Mucuna capsules which I took about 30 mins before running and stopped it happening for whole of 30 minute run. (that brand no longer available and haven't found any others as effective, still trying different ones though) . Also tried toe pads off ebay i think , strap a stiff pad to your 3 middle toes with pull tight elastic and that was fairly effective and not as uncomfortable as it sounds. Also if it happens when running I can do some specific stretches to pull out hamstrings etc and then it goes away for a while. Happens to me on stationary bike also yet not on real bike??!! Lastly and weirdly walking backwards seems to stop it!! not very practical though.

KemptonD profile image
KemptonD in reply toRatzkywatzky

Yes! walking backwards works for me, but effect is fleeting. I've hesitated recommending it as it may cause a collision with other pedestrians or a trip and fall.

GymBag profile image
GymBag in reply toKemptonD

Tried that, butt hurts still

Larrydds profile image
Larrydds

I had this same thing years before I was diagnosed. My podiatrist recommended surgery and luckily I refused.

Oceanflow profile image
Oceanflow

Me too. Left foot . Annoying! I’m wondering if it’s because I’m wearing off. My neurologist suggested I can get Botox injections in my calf as it would help for dystonia in the toes. My neurologist said to first try amantadine because it is supposed to help. I’m trying it out but so far haven’t noticed much of a difference but it’s week two and I’m on a starting low-dose.

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