Frostbite occurs when skin becomes overexposed to cold and typically affects hands, nose, ears and feet. Depending on your sport, frostbite can be a factor. In mountaineering, for example, frostbite represents one of the most common dangers intrinsic to the sport. Runners may also encounter frostbite if training in cold weather. Barefoot running advocates suggest that you ease into running without shoes by first training on a tennis court or a track. Speak to your doctor or health care practitioner before you begin training barefoot.
Foot Strike
If you are new to training barefoot as a means of overcoming frostbite, you may have to change your stride to avoid injury. According to Harvard researcher Daniel Lieberman, Ph.D., foot strike remains an important consideration for endurance runners. Forefoot and midfoot strikes, wherein the runner's weight lands first on the ball of the foot, remain preferential to heel strikes, which carry higher impact forces and higher frequency of injury. However, runners that habitually strike first with the heel often lack sufficient strength in the calves and ankles to sustain the shift to a forefoot strike and may develop Achilles tendonitis. Speak to your doctor or health care practitioner before you begin training barefoot.
Blood Flow
Frostbite happens when the blood vessels located in the skin narrow. In cold weather the body will divert blood flow from the extremities to the core in order to maintain vital organ function. When blood flow decreases, the skin's fluids begin to freeze, according to the American Osteopathic Association. Theoretically, training barefoot in cold weather may allow your body to adapt itself and keep blood flowing in the extremities longer. However this theory needs to be discussed with your doctor. Frostbite remains a serious condition that can lead to amputation and irreversible damage to connective tissue, nerves and bone, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Safety
The rule for training barefoot to overcome frostbite is start slow. Look for minimal footwear that has a supple sole and does not contain any arch support to allow the arch of the foot to flatten out as you run, according to Lieberman. If you go straight from stiff soled cushioned running shoes to bare feet with no acclimatization period, injuries can develop. Similarly, training barefoot to overcome frostbite must be approached incrementally. Expose your bare feet slowly to cold temperatures for short periods of time, always under doctor's supervision. Keep your digestive system operating as you train by ingesting calories frequently; this helps maintain the production of heat through metabolic function. Also make sure that you stay well hydrated and drink warm caffeine-free beverages as you train.
Treatment
In the early stages of frostbite you can experience pins and needles, throbbing, and aching sensations in the feet, symptoms which soon give way to complete numbness. The feet then become hard and the skin will turn white and appear waxy. If any of these symptoms develop while training barefoot, get to a warm place as soon as possible and seek emergency medical attention.
