Assessment of Nerve Damage in the Feet of Long-Distance Runners

Dyck, Peter J.; Classen, S.; O’Brien, Peter C.

doi:10.1016/s0025-6196(12)62294-0

“…Fitness of SAIl mechanoreceptors with advancing years is unknown. Differences between upper and lower extremity in the rate of decline in tactile sensibility with age may be attributable to the trauma inseparable from use; locomotion causes repeated plantar skin damage resulting in measurable plantar insensitivity [18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proprioception and Stability: Foot Position Awareness as a Function of Age and Footware

Robbins

¹

,

Waked

²

,

McClaran

³

1995

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We examined the hypothesis that awareness of foot position in terms of the slope of the weight-bearing surface declines with age. We further postulated that the decline would be due to a change in plantar tactile sensibility, and that footwear would further impair position judgments. We compared 15 men aged over 65 years (mean age 73) with 36 men aged under 40 (mean age 30) in terms of estimates of amplitude and direction of surface slopes. We employed a ratio scale of 0-10 representing actual slopes of 0 degrees-25 degrees in increments of 2.5 degrees. In order to examine whether subjects overestimated high angles they were told that the scale ranged from 0 to 15. We found significant differences between the two groups in terms of estimates and the effect of footwear. Psychophysical functions for estimate of slope were 0.95 for the young when barefoot and 0.71 when shod compared with 0.80 and 0.81 respectively for the older men. We conclude that sensitivity to foot position declines with age, mainly owing to loss of plantar tactile sensitivity. Footwear impairs foot position awareness in both young and old. Loss of foot position awareness may contribute to the frequency of falls in later life.

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“…Does this transient neuropraxia, which seems to occur during, or immediately after endurance running, represent an early symptom of the development of permanent neuropathy, or is it a benign and transient phenomenon? Previous research has considered permanent neurological deficits in runners, ranging from minor changes in sensory thresholds [1] to entrapment neuropathies. [2,3] A growing body of literature has investigated and reviewed these changes in pain perception among runners.…”

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confidence: 99%

The legend of plantar neuropraxia in long-distance athletes

Kellogg¹,

Joslin²

2013

S. Afr. j. sports med.

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Background. Legend has it that endurance athletes who develop plantar foot pain during long-distance running frequently experience an eventual relief of pain due to a transient neuropraxia brought on by continued activity. Objective. To evaluate the nature of this legend, we assessed long-distance runners for the presence of sensory deficits before and after completion of an ultramarathon, expecting to find an induced neuropraxia and abnormal sensory results. Methods. Twenty-five adult participants of an ultramarathon were evaluated prior to their 50/100 km run and again upon completion of the race. Neurosensory testing was performed using a 10 g monofilament at 4 locations on each foot and a 128 Hz tuning fork at one location on each foot. The same techniques were used prior to, and at conclusion of the race. Results. We detected no neuropraxia or sensory deficits in any participant, despite reports by the same subjects that they had experienced the phenomenon during the race. While runners commonly report losing sensation in their feet during long runs, we were unable to demonstrate any sensory deficit with simple field-based testing. Conclusion. We believe that there is room for additional research to be performed using more sensitive means of neurosensory evaluation.S Afr J SM 2013;25(2):51-52.

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“…[2,3] A growing body of literature has investigated and reviewed these changes in pain perception among runners. [4][5][6] Even though there is mention of acute neurosensory deficits during a race, in scholarly literature [1,2] and among athletes, no studies have rigorously demonstrated it. Using a standardised field technique utilising monofilament testing, we sought to expand on previous research on neurosensory changes in athletes and discover if a detectable, objective neuropraxia was induced in ultramarathon runners on race day.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The legend of plantar neuropraxia in long-distance athletes

Kellogg¹,

Joslin²

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background. Legend has it that endurance athletes who develop plantar foot pain during long-distance running frequently experience an eventual relief of pain due to a transient neuropraxia brought on by continued activity. Objective. To evaluate the nature of this legend, we assessed long-distance runners for the presence of sensory deficits before and after completion of an ultramarathon, expecting to find an induced neuropraxia and abnormal sensory results. Methods. Twenty-five adult participants of an ultramarathon were evaluated prior to their 50/100 km run and again upon completion of the race. Neurosensory testing was performed using a 10 g monofilament at 4 locations on each foot and a 128 Hz tuning fork at one location on each foot. The same techniques were used prior to, and at conclusion of the race. Results. We detected no neuropraxia or sensory deficits in any participant, despite reports by the same subjects that they had experienced the phenomenon during the race. While runners commonly report losing sensation in their feet during long runs, we were unable to demonstrate any sensory deficit with simple field-based testing. Conclusion. We believe that there is room for additional research to be performed using more sensitive means of neurosensory evaluation.S Afr J SM 2013;25(2):51-52.

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Assessment of Nerve Damage in the Feet of Long-Distance Runners

Cited by 16 publications

References 17 publications

Proprioception and Stability: Foot Position Awareness as a Function of Age and Footware

Proprioception and Stability: Foot Position Awareness as a Function of Age and Footware

The legend of plantar neuropraxia in long-distance athletes

The legend of plantar neuropraxia in long-distance athletes

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