Do you find yourself stiffer, painful, and sluggish in the winter? You may also require Myotherapy Fitzroy. You're not the only one who feels this way. There are a variety of reasons why our bodies become less flexible in the winter, but there are also strategies to overcome them. Here are five frequent causes of winter stiffness, as well as tried-and-true ways to stay on top of our musculoskeletal health.
In the winter, we move less.
Put your hand up if you find yourself moving less during the colder, darker, and wetter months. It's only natural that we'd want to hibernate and keep warm and cozy at home. But, with all of this sedentary winter coziness, comes stiffness and aches, which are frequently a slow but steady process.
Make sure you get out of your chair on a frequent basis, stretch lightly, exercise on a regular basis, and warm up properly. In the winter, our bodies require a longer warm-up period; otherwise, the strain on our bodies might result in tissue damage, injury, and soreness.
If you're having trouble motivating yourself to exercise this winter, try to discover something you enjoy doing. Even if you have access to a'more effective' activity, the most effective exercise is always the one you do. So, whether it's climbing or swimming, brisk walking or interval jogging, cycling or bouldering, or gardening, pick up an activity you enjoy or have always wanted to do this winter.
Existing pains and stiffness are exacerbated by the cold.
If we're stiff in the summer or have arthritis, injuries, or other conditions that affect the joints, bones, or ligaments, these pains are likely to worsen in the winter, therefore the best protection is to be prepared. If you have an underlying condition or are frequently uncomfortable and stiff, make sure you have a game plan prepared with your myotherapist or doctor before heading into the colder months.
We Aren't Dressed Properly for the Weather
Muscle contraction is caused by cold conditions, which can lead to:
- Muscle tension
- Muscle and joint mobility are restricted.
- Nerves pinched
- injuries
Maintaining a strong musculoskeletal system over the winter requires staying warm, and how we dress can play a huge influence in that. Instead of cumbersome clothing, layer up with many light and warm garments to keep warm air close to your body. When going between the outdoors and the indoors, you can more easily manage your temperature by donning or removing clothes.
We are deficient in vitamin D.
Vitamin D protects our bones and puts us at danger for osteoporosis and bone fractures if we don't get enough of it. The sun is out less in the winter, and so are we. Because of our reduced ozone layer, we're advised to limit our sun exposure all year in Australia, which is why we should monitor our Vitamin D levels all year. Take vitamins, eat fatty fish, and chat to your doctor about how to maintain your bones strong all year.
We're reactive rather than proactive.
We wait too long till the pain and stiffness set in, and by then, the work is already done for us. Dress warmly, get your vitamin D, exercise, stretch, eat hearty warm meals, and arrange a winter visit with your trusted and experienced myotherapists to ensure you're taking care of your body's requirements.
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