Colder weather of Winter and increased back pain

The morning and evenings are becoming ‘fresher’ now that we are in Autumn heading towards Winter. As temperatures start to drop, you may experience a familiar ache in your back, neck, or a previous back injury… why is this so?

Cold weather makes your muscles, tendons and ligaments in your back tighten and become less flexible. This can make your back more prone to injuries and in-turn, back pain.

Avoiding the inevitable Winter aches and pains

There are some practical tips to apply that will greatly assist in mitigating back pain during the colder months. These include:

  • Keep your body warm. Wear warm clothing and dress in layers. A few thin layers of clothes can keep you warmer than a single thick layer

  • Don’t forget to keep your lower back warm. Tuck your shirt into your pants to make sure that your back doesn’t get a cold draft when you reach for something

  • Keep your home/workplace warm

  • Make sure you have sufficient blankets to keep you warm through the night or an electric blanket

  • Don’t forget to keep active. It can be harder to keep up your exercise regime during colder and shorter days, but the benefits are well worth it. Perhaps consider exercise that can be done indoors like the gym, yoga, swimming centres etc.

  • Stretch on a regular basis. This is something you can do at home to help keep your back supple and avoid back pain. You could do some stretching while watching TV or when you wake up in the morning

  • Getting regular remedial massages along with spine and neck adjustments from your Osteopath can assist in keeping your back and muscles in alignment and working correctly. This will help you avoid muscles or joints being injured or fatigued – which can cause significant back pain

If the colder weather makes you cringe about the onset of back pain, lower back pain, neck or shoulder pain. Contact Us and speak with our Osteopath Shane Caulfield about the ideal way to manage your back health through the Winter months.