Running with Cold Feet Not a Disadvantage to Experienced Forefoot Runners

12/02/2015 Bretta Riches Forefoot Running Tips 535

A study by Nurse and Nigg found that the sensory threshold of the plantar surface increased in runners under cold conditions. As a result, proprioception was altered in the foot and ankle which decreased loading on the ankle. Therefore, running in cooler temperatures appears to be safe.

Other studies found that ankle, knee and hip-joint loads remained unaltered when runners ran in cold conditions. What does this mean for experienced forefoot runners?

In forefoot running, the feet passively interact with the ground, acting only as platforms to hold the body upright. From a perceptual standpoint, habitual forefoot runners run with ‘less feeling in their feet’ in normal temperatures.

Forefoot Running with Cold Feet
Cold feet does not pose a mechanical threat to an experienced forefoot runner. A forefoot strike essentially operates under autopilot, allowing the feet to have a more passive interaction with the ground which in turn, prevents coldness from inflicting deficits on landing strategy.

Forefoot running shoes are minimalist that don’t have a lot of insulation,  the feet tend to get colder during winter runs.

Luckily, forefoot running is a reflexive adaptation to reduce repetitive stress on the body. If learned correctly and with enough experience, you can pretty much run forefooted without monitoring your mechanics and while your feet are cold.

Because humans are hardwired for forefoot running, cold feet will not profoundly alter mechanics in experienced forefoot runners. In addition, cold feet may block irrelevant stimuli, shutting out sensory chatter in the brain.

Heel Strike vs Forefoot Strike

Other running styles such as heel running may not fare as well as forefoot runners in cooler temperatures. Since heel running involves more controlled manipulation of foot movements during ground contact, heel runners can’t afford to lose ‘any feeling’ in their feet.

Heel running is not reflexively controlled, therefore more conscious effort is needed to power muscle force generation to maintain running. In this case, cold weather can be a mechanical distraction, making it harder for a heel runner to discriminate preferred from non-preferred movements.

As a side note, proprioception that is altered from the cold is different from proprioception that is altered from a thick cushioned running shoe. The body perceives all unnatural cushy surfaces as unstable.

Forefoot running shoes have very minimal cushioning, thus the plantar surface is stable and is perceived by the body as stable despite cold temperatures. Therefore, forefoot runners will not land impulsively when proprioception is altered via coldness and when wearing zero-drop, minimalist shoes.

The take home message is that cold feet does not bring about adverse responses in biomechanics in the experienced forefoot runner mostly because the neural responses that govern a forefoot strike landing are autonomic.

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References:

Nurse, M. A., & Nigg, B. M. (2001). The effect of changes in foot sensation on plantar pressure and muscle activity. Clinical Biomechanics, 16, 719 – 727.

P.S. Don't forget to check out the Run Forefoot Facebook Page, it's a terrific place to ask questions about forefoot running, barefoot running and injury. I'm always happy to help!

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