While many people understand the correlation between the decline in temperatures and the increase in body aches, most tend to associate the pain to joints and muscles. While this is mostly true, it is easy to forget that your body has many different muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support your spine. As the temperature decreases, this causes them to tighten and can be very painful. In addition to the cold, the change in temperature can also bring about drops in pressure. These pressure changes can cause tissue to expand and press into the structures and joints in your back. Here are some tips to minimize any potential discomfort between visits:
Keep Warm!
While this might seem to be the obvious, it can also be the one most taken for granted.
- Create layers and dress warm – Do this even while in your house or car. Try tucking in your shirt to trap additional body heat and avoid the tightening in your back.
- Use extra blankets when possible to make sure to add additional warmth
- Avoid prolonged exposure to the outside
Stretch!
We’ve discussed the importance of stretching before, but proper warmup and stretching are critical in the cold, even if it’s just to sit around the house or for minimal activity.
Keep Active
Try to avoid prolonged periods of inactivity. Be careful not to overexert yourself if you are already feeling discomfort, but inactivity can lead to tightening and low temperature can quickly compound the issue causing additional pain and discomfort.
Don’t Cheat On Shoveling Form!
For those of you who live in areas that experience snowfall, proper shoveling form and preparation combined with the previous tips can be the difference between a normal day or several weeks of discomfort.
If you are experiencing more pain this time of year, then give us a call! We’re looking forward to helping you reduce your back pain!