How to Soothe Aching Muscles and Joints in Winter

When winter rolls around, it’s normal to feel like hibernating indoors. The cold weather might inspire us to laze around in the living room with a hot cup of cocoa. When we do brave the sub-zero temperatures, we may also notice that our joints feel stiff. During winter, some of us tend to be less active. This inactivity leads to muscle tension and joint stiffness. During winter, how can we prevent or avoid this discomfort?

There are many therapies that can help muscle and joint mobility. The following are some treatments that can help alleviate pain and difficulty during the season:

Physical Therapy

Winter stiffness is not a new phenomenon. As soon as Thanksgiving is over, many of us head into the holidays thinking we can let go and do less until the new year. However, cold temperatures slow blood circulation, which can result in a buildup of lactic acid in muscles, causing soreness. This metabolic waste can be a reason behind winter stiffness.

The joints of our body are where the bones meet. Knees, elbows, and hips are all prone to cold weather discomfort. Synovial fluid lubricates joints and acts like an oil that reduces friction between the bones and cartilage so we can move easily, without feeling pain. When the temperature drops, synovial fluid can stagnate. To combat this situation, do some simple stretching exercises to promote blood flow and synovial fluid circulation. Pilates, yoga, and some basic movement in the comfort of your home can keep you active and prevent a sedentary lifestyle from becoming routine.

Keep active during the wintertime to increase flexibility. Start slow with warm-up exercises and ease your body into greater activity. Think of your body like a car; it will need time to warm up before you can enjoy a relaxing tour around town. Before you head outside to shovel snow, go tobogganing, or grocery shop, take time to limber up — you’ll be glad you did.

If you are hesitant to create your own indoor activity plan, you can receive guidance from a licensed physical therapist (PT). Health care professionals are experts when it comes to bones, muscles, and the movement of the body. You can work with a PT when you are experiencing pain. They’ll review your ability to go through a series of movements and exercises, then prescribe gentle exercises that will help improve the blood flow in your body. Good blood flow always means less pain and increased mobility.

You can expect your physical therapist to share with you “active” or “passive” range of motion exercises. They will demonstrate how to move your joints and extremities in a pain-free way. Over a series of sessions, you will likely enjoy an improved range of motion. As you gain strength and mobility, you might be encouraged to use exercise equipment during your therapy sessions.

Massage

Getting a massage is another way to improve the condition of your body. Massage therapy can help you relax and improve your sleep, but it is part of an overall wellness plan to increase flexibility and reduce pain. One objective of a massage therapy session is to reduce tension that is trapped within the body. When it’s cold, our systems have an added reason to tense up. Booking a therapeutic massage can do wonders for wintertime aches and pains.

Low temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict, resulting in reduced circulation and higher blood pressure. Massaging muscles promotes lymphatic drainage, improves blood circulation, and naturally lowers blood pressure. The body returns to a state of relaxation because of soothing massage strokes and diminished tension. Getting a regular one hour massage during the winter season will help keep a body in optimal condition.

Chiropractic

A chiropractor helps keep your body in proper anatomical alignment through manual manipulation of the spine. If you work in an office, sitting in your desk all day typing on a keyboard can cause stiff hips, hunched shoulders, or poor posture. Spending hours in this position doing your job may lead to neck pain and tension headaches.

When you make an initial appointment with a chiropractor, the doctor will assess the status of your musculoskeletal alignment and discuss any pain or mobility challenges you’re experiencing. After this initial consultation, s/he can gently manipulate your bones and soft tissues to put your spine and body in a healthier position. By keeping your spine healthy — without the burden of tight muscles and poor alignment — you will experience better range of movement and body function. Regular sessions with a chiropractor can improve your joint mobility and body strength. A strong, nimble body is less vulnerable to injury.

The cold weather might encourage us to merely hibernate all winter, but there are many solid reasons to be out and about. Seeing a chiropractor, RMT, or physiotherapist (or some combination of the three) can really help you feel better when the temperature drops. The winter can be quite harsh on a body. We risk injury on slippery ice, body aches brought on by cold, and a compromised immune system. Visit your local physiotherapy clinic to prevent or deal with any body discomfort.

If you need help with muscle and joint pain during winter, consider chiropractic care, massage therapy, or physical therapy. All these therapies are proven to reduce soreness and strengthen a person at any age. Be Strong Physiotherapy has licensed RMTs, chiropractors and physiotherapists in Scarborough to help patients work through various illness and ailments. To book an appointment, give us a call at 416-792-6440 or email info@bestrongphysio.ca.