Winter in Minnesota is a beautiful time of year, but the colder weather can also be hard on your spine and your whole body. The colder temperatures can be hard on your body for a few different reasons. For starters, colder weather typically involves a significant drop in barometric pressure. Experts believe that natural barometric pressure plays a small role in helping to keep joint tissues in place. When there is less natural barometric pressure, it’s easier for tissues to swell or inflame, which can make movement a little more uncomfortable.
Other studies have found that synovial fluid in our joints can become slightly thicker when we’re exposed to colder temperatures. This fluid helps to lubricate tissues in our joints and aid in normal movements, so when it’s harder for this fluid to adequately lubricate our joints, you can start to feel a little more stiff when the weather gets colder. However, don’t take this minor or mild back discomfort as a sign that you should stay inside and inactive this winter. Below, we share some tips to combat back problems caused by colder weather.
Preventing Winter Back Pain
One thing we tell patients who suffer from worsening back pain during the winter months is to take care of their spine like they take care of their car in the winter. A lot of the same principles you apply to your vehicle in the winter can be applied to your body. For example, you’ll want to:
- Warm Up For Activity – If you’re like a lot of people, you probably let your car warm up for a little bit before you pull out of the driveway on a cold winter morning. Turning on the engine and quickly driving off will be a little harder on your car, and the same logic applies to your body. Before you take on a physical challenge in the winter, give your body a few minutes to prepare for the activity by stretching and helping muscles and soft tissues get loose.
- Protection From The Elements – When possible, you probably park your car in a garage to protect it from the harsh winter elements. A roof offers an extra layer of protection for your vehicle, and you’ll want extra layers of protection for your body as well. Dress appropriately if you’ll be going outside to help keep your back and your body warm so that the cold temperatures don’t have such a profound effect on your joints.
- Use It – If you’ve ever gone on a winter vacation and left your vehicle at the airport for a week in the cold, it can be a little nerve wracking to see if your vehicle starts up when you turn the engine for the first time in a while. The longer your car sits idly in the winter, the harder it will have to work when you try to run it in the future. The same goes for your body. Don’t shy away from physical activity when the weather gets cold, because muscles will be weaker and pain can develop more easily. Still challenge yourself to make it to the gym or do some home exercises during the dark and cold winter months in Minnesota.
- Regular Tune Ups – Finally, you take your car in for regular maintenance and you may take some steps to winterize it when the cold weather arrives, and you should also take some basic care steps with your body. If you haven’t got your annual physical yet, set one up with your doctor. It can also be easier to fall into bad eating habits during the holiday season, but poor food choices can increase the risk of inflammation in your body and your joints. Make it a point to regularly make healthy dietary choices this winter, and these foods can help fuel your body into the new year!
If you’re finding that winter tends to be particularly hard on your back, or you are hoping to take some steps to have a stronger spine in the new year, reach out to Dr. Jackman and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.
If You Describe Your Back Pain In These Ways, It’s Time To See A Doctor
