Does the winter make your joints hurt? Personally, I have become less tolerant of cold weather and my joints are sore! Why does cold weather cause our joints to hurt? Although there is no real explanation, there are a few theories. Is it the drop in Barometric pressure that causes tendons, muscles, and scar tissue to contract that creates pain in areas of arthritis? Or, is it inactivity in the cooler months making your joints stiffer and more painful? Lastly, are your joint fluids becoming thicker or more viscous in cooler temperatures, causing stiffness? 

The real question is, did you know that chiropractic can help?

As a chiropractor, I cannot fix joint damage or arthritis due to the loss of cartilage, but I can help to slow down or arrest further damage. Chiropractic adjustments reduce inflammation, restore range of motion, and help reduce pain.  Come in for a consultation and we can determine the cause of your joint pain, and see if chiropractic is right for you. Even if you experience no joint pain at all, regular chiropractic care can prevent pain by keeping you limber and aligned.

There are a few things you can do to prevent the cold weather joint pain. Stay warm by wearing appropriate clothing and even compression garments. Exercise indoors while incorporating flexibility drills and strength training to your cardio workouts. Try taking warm baths, showers, and drinking hot tea to warm up from outside. Stay hydrated! Muscles get sore with cooler weather because we forget to hydrate when we aren’t sweating! Take Vitamin D daily, too, because indoor activity and less sun exposure can cause joint and bone pain.