Sensitivity is addressed in several sports, but in alpine skiing, it is a skill that must be trained constantly since positioning and controlling our skis on the edges, pressure control, and direction orientation, among other things, require the fine use of all our senses.
Sensitivity is our ability to be aware of a stimulus variation; it is the opposite of force and the absence of body tension increases it. It is being aware of the little or unnecessary muscular efforts to perform skiing actions. Articular sensitivity allows us detecting the position of bones and records mobility through joint angles.
Sensitivity to resistance is our skill to detect opposition and adjust our movements. The resistances which we experience could be internal, as the resistance in the execution of our own movements; or external, as the friction of our skis on the snow; the contact with bumps or slalom gates; snow consistency; boot flex; skis deformation or the resistance perceived when leaning on the inside or uphill pole as a reference for the degree of our body inclination.
The awakening of sensitivity causes a revolution in our consciousness creating new perceptions. It is not just connecting with sensations but also reflecting on our technique, reaching smooth but firm skiing.
Feet sensitivity
Our feet are recognized as a fundamental source of afferent sensory information as well as regulating skiing-related movements, including overall balance control. Being as a contact surface between us and the sliding ground, our feet deserve special attention since they provide mechanical information pickup about vibrations and tactile sensory inputs.
According to several types of research, feet sensitivity contributes to legs coordination and body posture through sensorimotor integration. Aging has a negative effect on feet sensitivity, caused by cutaneous mechanoreceptors reduction and transmission deficiencies of afferent stimuli. Feet should not be only considered as our supporting postural structure but also as an essential sensory information supplier, actively participating in the subtle coordination of our movements and actions’ execution.
Feet skin temperature, blood flow, and boot feature influence our feet’ optimal functioning during skiing. Feet temperature influences considerably their sensitivity. Skin cooling reduces feet sensitivity, while skin warming improves plantar vibration sensitivity (Schlee, 2010).
Diabetes is known to cause feet sensitive reduction, which together with vascular difficulties, tends to produce plantar ulcers in pressure exposed areas leading to performance limitations.
Visceral sensitivity
Visceral sensitivity is part of our interoceptive sensitivity. The stomach is considered to be our ‘second brain’. It has millions of neurons and its neural network does not produce cognitive activity but influences our moods. The Vagus nerve connects the brain with our stomach, receiving signals from visceral organs sending them to the brain. Some authors consider that the main role of the enteric nervous system is the digestive regulation, and the secondary is the emotional regulation.
In the visceral sensitivity, emotional states relate to our stomach states. This is altered when negative or positive emotions soar. Negative emotions cause unpleasant sensations because viscera agitate, causing our stomach upset while the positive, such as happiness, release serotonin (hormone of well-being) and the stomach contains 90% of these hormones.
The stress that creates a challenging or threatening situation is manifested as a ‘knot’ in the stomach. These non-rationalized impulses provoke a reaction of tension on the abdominal muscles and even nausea. If the situation is perceived as very unpleasant, we experience such a stomach reaction to the point of causing vomiting. This phenomenon is observed often in children manifesting stomach pain at new situations to which they are not prepared for. These reactions can also occur as adults in circumstances that alter our skiing pace, i.e., novel scenarios that cause uncertainty as taking for the first time a lift; skiing with fog; descend along a new slope or merely observe and perceive it difficult.
In short, our visceral sensitivity is expressed as a deeply emotional reaction that is not reached by reason or logic. It is a momentary state which disappears at the moment we decide to deal with the situation. At descending the slope, we forget the difficulty and pay attention to our actions and trajectories.
Vibro-tactile sensitivity
Vibro-tactile sensitivity refers to the oscillatory mechanical stimulation that manifests as a continuous pressure or repetitive touch. We perceive it, for example, in small vibrations coming from the steering wheel while driving a car.
Our body, being an elastic mass, has the capacity to vibrate when receiving external stimuli. These vibratory stimuli are generated by friction between our skis and snow surface while sliding on it. The perception of the intrinsic properties of vibration (frequency and amplitude range as location and duration) does not only depend on tactile receptors but also on our subjective aspect and the level of sensitivity we have developed.
Very low amplitude vibrations can be attenuated by our body’s soft parts or our absorbing skills, but vibrations of greater amplitude will be transmitted by the bones to the rest of the body. Because of ski boots restriction, vibratory sensations are manifested mainly in our knees.
According to these considerations, you can apply the following suggestions in your own skiing:
- Remember that you require the fine use of all your senses to position your body, control your skis on the edges, and regulate pressure and direction, so you should train your sensitivity constantly.
- To detect and enhance your skiing sensations, focus on the absence of body tensions first.
- Pay attention to your feet since they provide mechanical information pickup about vibrations and tactile sensory inputs.
- Consider your feet not only as your supporting postural structure but also as an essential sensory information supplier.
