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How Cold is Too Cold?

Friday, 12 January 2018 23:10

 "When it comes down to it, wearing the proper clothing is the most important factor."

By Kelly O'Mara (triathlete.com)

As frigid temperatures take over most of the country, most people are staying indoors, figuring this must be too cold to run outside. In fact, though, research suggests that as long as it’s warmer than -18 degrees, it’s not too cold to work out—as long as you take the appropriate precautions....

“People, of course, have walked to the Poles,” said John Castellani, an exercise physiologist at the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. Castellani was co-chair of a study conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine that found, “For the most part, cold-weather is not a barrier to performing physical activity.”

The main thing Castellani and his co-authors studied was the danger of frostbite, which has the highest risk below -17 or -18 degrees. But, he said, they also looked at other common fears about running or working out in the extreme cold.

While there are certain populations who are at risk, the vast majority of research suggests that people won’t damage their muscles or their lungs in the cold—two common misconceptions.  READ MORE