With fall and winter approaching, lower temperatures and fluctuating sunlight can lead to more people experiencing back or joint pain. You may have heard that joints start to hurt when a storm is coming but is that really true? Here are the facts about temperature linked to pain and how the changes in the seasons can affect your pain symptoms.
Barometric Pressure
When someone mentions that they have pain flare-ups before a storm, this often is because of changes in barometric pressure. Studies have yet to find any real correlation between changing temperatures causing pain, but the expanding and contracting of joints in the cold could cause.
Lower temperatures have also been shown to make the liquid in your joints thicker, which leads to your joints and body being stiff and hard to move. While the cooler temperatures may not necessarily cause your pain, they often don’t help.
Another reason that changes in the seasons can affect pain is because our body is more focused on heating lifesaving organs and body parts. Circulation begins to slow to our feet and hands which can be a cause of pain. Less blood flow often means tingling or aching in fingers and toes.
Movement
During the winter, more people tend to stay inside and get less exercise. This could be a contributing factor for those with arthritis or other joint pain. Because you are moving less, your joints get stiff and muscles tend to ache more from lack of movement. Exercise and chiropractic alignment can help your joints move properly and allow them to have more motion during the winter months.
How To Deal With Changes In The Seasons
Living in a place that sees changes in the seasons all year round, it may not be possible to get away from changing pressure and cold temperatures. Places with harsh winters are going to experience cooler temperatures, so it is important to dress warm and layer up if you are going out. There are some solutions and helpful tricks that can help alleviate some of the joint pain you may be experiencing.
1- Get lots of Vitamin D. While there is less light from the sun during the months of fall and winter, your body needs Vitamin D to perform at its best. Taking Vitamin D supplements and getting out in the sun as much as possible can help with aches and pains that come from cooler weather.
2- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water has multiple benefits for your body, including helping minimize the symptoms of pain.
3- Keep up on light exercise. When you are in pain, the last thing you think about is exercise, but moving your body can actually help you feel better and have more energy. Light stretches, walking, or indoor swimming can help keep muscles strong.
4- Stay positive. Seasons don’t last forever and while winter can drag on for a long time, the sun will come back again. Keeping a positive attitude and working to be happy each can stop the pain from ruling your life.
Visit Elevate Wellness Chiropractic
Our chiropractors at Elevate Wellness Chiropractic are trained to treat a variety of injuries and pain symptoms. Whether you have been in a car accident, have damaged joints, or have chronic headaches, chiropractic exercises can help you. For those who experience constant pain, or who play contact sports, treatment is highly suggested.
Chiropractors work to align your spine, which is responsible for helping your body do many tasks. Misalignment of the spine can cause more than just back pain and is often the cause of inflammation. Chiropractic treatment helps the body to get back to healing naturally and eliminates the overuse of medications and helps patients avoid surgery.
If you feel that chiropractic treatment could help your pain through changes in the seasons, contact us today and chat with our doctors. We are here to serve you and work with patients of all ages.