Winter can be a dreary time of year in Bolton with most days being wet and cold. It can become hard to get out of bed in the morning as the body starts to feel a little tighter due to the cold.
Many people over the winter break suffer from stiffness in their joints as it becomes more painful. We also see many guests visiting our clinic with injuries that they have sustained over the winter months.
Once we have helped our valued guests to recover from their joint stiffness or injury, we usually share some tips for maintaining good spinal health in the winter months. Throughout this blog post, we discuss winter tips our Chiropractors in Bolton want you to know.
Why Does Spinal Health Decline in Winter?
We often see an increase with back pain visiting Bolton Spinal Health in winter. This increase is explained by the fact that people tend to be more sedentary in the winter months. As a result, they become stiff, sore, and lose mobility.
Spending long periods seated also increases the risk of the body being placed in an awkward position. This can lead to poor posture, which may also cause pain and mobility problems.
Winter can be a tough period for some people as we spend more time indoors and are more likely to slip and injure ourselves as we go out and about.
Tips For Looking After Your Spine in Winter
Here are some simple winter tips which can help you avoid stiffness and reduce the risk of injury this winter.
Continue exercising throughout the winter months
Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good spinal health. It will keep your core muscles strong, help you maintain good posture, and lubricate your joints.
James our Chiropractor at Bolton often recommends the use of stationary bikes, indoor rowing machines, treadmills, and elliptical machines as they can be used regardless of the weather.
They make it easy to work up a sweat and keep the pounds off during the winter months. Another great option is to visit an indoor pool. Swimming is surprisingly relaxing during winter and will keep your musculoskeletal system in great shape. If you are brave enough you should try to get outside as much as possible as vitamin D is typically very low during the winter months.
Don’t spend too much time on electronic devices
When the weather is cold, most people will curl up in front of a TV, phone, tablet, or another electronic device. Unfortunately, spending many hours on these devices can lead to postural issues including forward head posture, also known as “Tech Neck”. If you are using an electronic device, remember to take regular breaks and stretch frequently especially up top in the neck and shoulder areas. You can check out our social media for top tips on stretching the neck area. Follow the link here.
Keep yourself warm as much as possible
This tip sounds like a no-brainer, but a surprisingly high number of people are still walking around in winter wearing flimsy jumpers which don’t offer much protection. Their exposure to the cold causes stiffness in their joints and increases the risk of injury. Make sure you own some warm winter clothes that are still in good condition. Consider this investment one that you must make for good spinal health. Also, no one ever loved being too cold anyway.
Be careful when shovelling or lifting
In Bolton we may experience some high snowfalls, Snow sometimes does seem to grind everything to a halt. Grabbing a shovel to dig out your car or clear a path may be a necessity. Unfortunately, it can be a time when injuries occur!
If you do need to do a spot of shovelling, make sure you:
- Use good technique
- Warm-up before starting
- Use the right shovel for the job
- Take breaks as you work
Stretch everyday
Stretching is a very important thing to do at all times of the year but even more so when it’s cold and wet as our muscles shorten and become stiff when they are exposed to the cold weather. Try to get into the habit of stretching each morning when you wake and just before you go to bed. Our Chiropractors and Massage Therapist can advise you on some of their favourite stretches when you next visit Bolton Spinal Health. If you are not coming in anytime soon you can also take a visit to Bolton Spinal Health’s Instagram or Facebook to see their stretching videos that are very valuable for you this winter.
Is your back giving you trouble this winter? Our team of experienced chiropractors and massage therapists at Bolton Spinal Health are here to help you. To make an appointment with one of our team, call 01204 848 887.
