If you’ve started noticing tingling, burning, or numbness in your feet, it’s something worth paying attention to. These sensations may seem minor at first, but they can gradually affect balance, comfort, and your ability to stay active.
Foot numbness may appear suddenly or develop alongside ongoing foot pain, making daily movement feel less steady or secure. Understanding what’s behind these sensations often requires a closer look at how your nerves, circulation, and biomechanics interact.
In this article, we’ll discuss how a qualified podiatrist in Dural may help assess these factors and identify the potential causes of your numbness.
For personalised advice, contact our team at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre today. With decades of podiatric experience, we offer personalised care and gentle support, helping you get back on track.
Understanding Foot Numbness
Foot numbness is a common concern that may affect people of all ages and activity levels. It’s often described as a tingling, burning, or ‘pins and needles’ sensation, and may come and go or persist for longer periods.
While it may seem like a minor issue, ongoing numbness could be a sign of an underlying problem with nerve function, circulation, or pressure within the foot or leg.
In some cases, numbness may occur after long periods of standing, running, or wearing tight footwear. For others, it may develop gradually due to changes in posture, muscle imbalance, or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes or spinal alignment issues.
Recognising the nature and pattern of numbness, where it occurs, when it appears, and what activities influence it, may help your podiatrist determine which systems of the foot and leg are involved.
What Causes Foot Numbness?
Foot numbness may occur for a variety of reasons, sometimes due to local nerve pressure, other times from broader circulation or spinal changes. Our team at the Foot and Leg Pain Centre assess each of these potential causes to create an individualised care plan.
- Nerve Compression or Entrapment: Pressure on a nerve, such as in tarsal tunnel syndrome or Morton’s neuroma, may lead to tingling, burning, or loss of sensation.
- Reduced Circulation: Poor blood flow may create a cold or numb feeling, particularly in the toes.
- Spinal or Sciatic Nerve Irritation: Nerves that start in the lower back may refer sensations of numbness or tingling down the leg and into the foot.
- Diabetes and Peripheral Neuropathy: Long-term changes in blood sugar levels may affect nerve sensitivity, leading to gradual numbness.
- Footwear, Posture, and Biomechanics: Tight shoes, repetitive strain, or altered gait patterns may cause temporary nerve compression or circulation changes.
When to see a Podiatrist
Occasional tingling or mild numbness after sitting or wearing tight shoes may not be unusual. However, if numbness becomes frequent, lasts longer, or affects your balance or comfort, it may be time to seek a professional assessment.
A podiatrist may help determine whether the cause is local, such as pressure on a nerve, or linked to broader biomechanical, vascular, or neurological changes. Early assessment may also help prevent small issues from progressing into more persistent discomfort or instability.
You may wish to see a podiatrist if you notice:
- Numbness or tingling that doesn’t stop with rest or footwear changes
- Symptoms that worsen with activity or standing
- Loss of balance, coordination, or sensitivity in one or both feet
- Numbness associated with pain, swelling, or changes in skin colour
Because the feet are closely connected to the body’s nervous and circulatory systems, identifying the underlying cause early may support better management.
Early assessment at our Dural podiatry clinic may help prevent further discomfort and support long-term mobility.
How Podiatrists Diagnose the Underlying Cause
Podiatrists use a range of assessments to understand what may be contributing to foot numbness. At the Foot and Leg Pain Centre, we combine clinical skill with advanced diagnostic tools to provide a clear understanding of your symptoms.
Detailed Medical History and Review
Your podiatrist may begin by discussing when the numbness occurs, how long it lasts, and any related symptoms such as pain, tingling, or weakness. This history may reveal patterns linked to activity, footwear, or existing health conditions.
Physical Examination and Testing
Gentle tests may be used to assess sensation, muscle response, and reflexes. This may help determine whether a specific nerve, muscle, or region of the foot is affected.
Biomechanical and Gait Assessment
Observation of how you stand and walk may highlight alignment or pressure issues. Subtle changes in gait or foot posture may contribute to nerve compression or altered blood flow.
Nerve and Circulation Screening
Simple in-clinic tests, such as vibration, temperature, or pulse checks, may be used to evaluate nerve sensitivity and circulation quality. These screenings may help differentiate between vascular and neurological causes.
Diagnostic Imaging (Ultrasound, X-ray, MRI)
If needed, imaging may be used to examine structures in greater detail, helping identify nerve entrapment, soft-tissue changes, or spinal involvement that may be contributing to numbness.
Take the First Step Towards Better Foot Health
If you’ve been living with ongoing foot numbness, tingling, or a loss of sensation, it may be time to have it properly assessed. At the Foot and Leg Pain Centre, our team takes a thorough, evidence-based approach to uncovering what’s causing your symptoms.
Using advanced diagnostic tools and decades of combined podiatric experience, we aim to identify the source and create a care plan tailored to your individual needs.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards understanding your symptoms and improving your foot health, our team is here to support you.
