Let’s Prevent Joint Pain During Winter
Not only can winter be bitterly cold, but many of us deal with severe joint pain during this time. How can you prevent joint pain during winter? What are some tips and tricks? Follow these easy steps to help prevent joint pain and make winter more enjoyable!
Reduce and prevent your joint pain
Decreased temperatures can lead to some serious ailments. As we all know, illnesses like influenza and viral infections are rampant during this time of year but they aren’t the only ailments.
The reduced temperatures can also affect people with severe joint pain.
During winter, a lower temperature can lead to reduced blood flow and stiffening of the joints which can cause increased bone and joint pain. The following tips can help reduce your joint pain experienced during winter.
(Be sure to speak to your physician first to get their professional opinion and before making any lifestyle changes.)
1. Healthy diet
The key to helping you prevent joint pain during winter is eating a healthy diet. Fruits, vegetables, and cereals should be a staple in your daily meals. Calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin K can help reduce joint pain. Foods that offer essential minerals should also be consumed.
They include oranges, cabbage, and spinach. The vitamins can enhance cartilage production which helps reduce friction in the bones, tissues, and joints.
2. Avoid cold showers
The cold weather coupled with cold showers can lead to an increased likelihood of joint pain. It is important to avoid cold water in general (like a pool) to stay away from joint pain. Use warm water for bathing.
Hot water can assist with reducing stiffness and soothe joint pain. People with arthritis can use warm water for therapy.
3. Sunbathe
One easy tip that will help you prevent joint pain during winter is to sunbathe. The morning sun from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. has many advantages. It offers the body vitamin D that is essential to relieving pain in the joints. However, past 10 a.m. the exposure to the sun’s UV rays can lead to skin damage.
Therefore, care has to be taken to avoid skin damage. Exposure to the sun can also enhance the circulation of blood.
4. Have proper postures
One of the leading causes of joint pain is poor posture. Is your posture stooped forward over your phone or computer right now?
When we maintain a posture that harms our joints while performing different tasks at work or home, it can severely increase joint pain. Follow safe sitting/standing practices while undertaking routine chores.
It is vital to avoid rapid changes or movements as they can cause a rise in joint pain.
5. Prepare well in advance
Winter is just one of the four seasons we experience on earth so we obviously know it’s coming. Hence, there is a need to prepare well in advance before the season comes.
Preparations can include buying warmer clothes or consulting your doctor about any necessary therapies or injections to help reduce joint pain like aquaflexin.
Most patients suffering from joint pain, such as those with arthritis, tend to wait until the winter season to have a wake-up call. The pain that they experience can be avoided with proper preparation. Winter also contributes to reactions in the synovial linings.
This joint lining helps keep the cartilages healthy as well as bathing the joints. Those with joint replacements are more prone to these pains.
6. Perform aerobics
It is important during the winter season to perform regular aerobics. The advantage of this is that you can perform these activities in the comfort of your house. You can incorporate a stationary bicycle as well as a treadmill.
These can help you stay warm. Indoor pools are also ideal. However, these should be heated.
7. Exercise regularly
During winters, it is tempting to remain indoors rather than going out. However, regular exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy body. This winter lethargy can lead to a reduced state of health and weight gain which can increase joint pain. Likewise, this can affect cholesterol which can increase inflammation in the joints.
All of this can increase bone and joint pain.
That being said, as we mentioned cold weather can increase joint pain, so care needs to be taken. It is important to ask for advice from the health practitioners on the recommended exercises.
You can also exercise under the supervision of a certified personal trainer or a physician. They will approve a training program to improve your mobility without causing pain.
Wrap-Up
These tips on how to prevent joint pain during winter are essential in ensuring that winter does not cause unnecessary pain.
It is important to note that most of the tips do not require you to wait till winter kicks in – start now!
You can begin changing any harmful routines and adopting new ones that will make you more comfortable this winter.
References:
- 7 Foods That Improve Memory - February 23, 2019
- Middle Age Fitness: 6 Workouts for Weight Loss - November 30, 2018
- How Does Exercise Improve Sleep - November 24, 2017
