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How Cold Weather Affects Our Bodies

January 15, 2024 11:58 pm Leave a Comment

people walking along city sidewalk during snowstorm

We’re halfway through January and Southern Ontario is experiencing its first long stretch of really cold weather. Have you ever noticed that as the weather gets colder you experience more aches and pains and your muscles feel stiffer?

More Aches and Pains?

“Cold weather causes muscles to lose more heat and contract, causing tightness throughout the body,” says Ajax chiropractor Dr. John Noble. “Many of us actually hunch ourselves up when we are cold, making muscles tighter and less mobile.”

Colder temperatures force muscles to work much harder to complete the same tasks they complete easily in milder weather. This may result in more damage to the muscle tissue and increased soreness.

This is even more evident for workers who work outside in the winter, or individuals with certain ailments. The cold weather can increase the risk of suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and can even increase the intensity of certain musculoskeletal conditions.

How Can the Cold Weather Impact Us?

If you live with an arthritic condition you might find that your symptoms may be exacerbated by cold weather conditions, which can keep you away from doing the activities you enjoy. Conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis may not react well to sudden weather or atmospheric changes, which may worsen symptoms.

Even without any specific conditions, most of us are very aware of how our bodies feel and move when we are cold – we may move more slowly when our muscles are tense and stiff. For those who work outside, be conscious of your working conditions. Feeling warm, safe and comfortable is important as heavy lifting and overexertion can increase the risk of injury in colder temperatures.

Here are a few things that can be done to prevent stiffness and musculoskeletal-related injuries during the winter months:

Maintain an active lifestyle – make sure you are doing some form of physical activity to exercise your muscles and joints.
Dress warmly – wear proper clothing to keep your body warm and protected from the cold.
Wear proper footwear – wear boots that are waterproof and warm, and have good threads to prevent falls.
Wear a warm hat – keeping your head warm reduces the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
Reduce your time outdoors – Do not stay out in the cold for too long (if you work outside, move indoors during your breaks, if possible).

The winter months shouldn’t keep you from doing the things you love, or keep you indoors in pain.

Keep active and dress warmly, and you may be able to minimize the aches and pains of the season.

The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic & Massage can help you manage your condition-related pain during the winter months, and help you prevent musculoskeletal conditions if you work outdoors.

We provide our patients with more than just chiropractic and massage therapy services, but also the know-how to build better personal wellness habits so you can be at your best for work or play, every day.

To book an appointment or learn more about the chiropractic and therapeutic massage therapy services available at our clinic, call 905-427-3202.

With content from the Canadian Chiropractic Association.

Five Tips for Staying Pain-Free Over the Holidays

November 30, 2022 2:59 pm Leave a Comment

family skating

December arrives tomorrow and with it, the season for eating great food, spending quality time with loved ones and sharing cherished traditions. Unfortunately, all of the hustle and bustle can also bring you an unwelcome gift — back pain.

Holiday activities such as shopping, wrapping gifts and skating can cause your muscles to work in ways they’re not usually used and can result in neck, shoulder or back pain.

Try these five tips to reduce your chances of pain and strain:

1. Ergonomic Gift Wrapping
After searching high and low for the perfect gifts, it’s time to wrap them up! Rather than spreading out on the floor, use a dinner table or desk. This will make it easier for you to use good posture. Just remember that sitting in one position for too long can put additional strain on your body. Take frequent breaks and stretch your hands, wrists and forearms by clenching your hands and relaxing.

2. Strain-Free Snowman
Building your very own Frosty the Snowman is top of mind for many children once the snow falls. Roll your snowballs into place and work together as a team to lift them when you’re ready. And remember, rule number one is to lift with your legs, not your back!

3. Lift Light to Shovel Right
When shovelling your driveway, let your legs and arms do the heavy lifting instead of relying on your back, and push the snow to one side to avoid throwing it. If you must throw it, avoid twisting and turning — face your snowbank and throw the snow straight into it.

For more helpful shovelling tips, see this post: Follow These Tips for Avoiding Injury While Shovelling This Winter

4. Stretch, Skate and Snowboard
It’s time to sharpen your skates and grab your snowboards! To prevent injuries that can plague you for months, remember to stretch before and after you hit the slopes or ice.

A basic go-to is the hamstring stretch:

Stand tall next to something you can hold on to for support.
Prop the back of one heel up on a surface like a stair, curb or bench and pull your toes back towards you.
For a deeper stretch, bend forward slightly at the hips.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds on each side.

5. Holiday Shopping
Carrying all those bags may be a productive way to move through your Christmas list, but it’s not great for your back. Consider taking a trip to your car to drop off your bags and lighten the load. If that’s not reasonable, take breaks and set your bags down or use a backpack to help distribute the weight.

Take care of yourself during the cold-weather months.

There are lots of ways to make the short winter days a little brighter. The wellness team at Pickering Village Chiropractic and Massage encourages you to make your physical and mental health a priority.