There’s a chill in the air across the Carolinas, and you’re probably focused on family visits, meal plans, and getting those holiday lights put up. While winter can be a festive time of the year, you might also notice a few more backaches and pains as the weather gets colder.
But why does the winter make your back hurt? And more importantly, is there anything you can do about it?
The good news is winter doesn’t have to mean back pain. There are some simple steps you can take when the weather turns cold to keep your spine healthy and support overall wellness Below are some tips:
Watch Your Step
Although we don’t get much snow in the Charlotte area, we do get plenty of ice. This can mean slips and falls that may cause serious injury to your spine. According to research, thousands of people are injured each year due to slips and falls from ice and snow, and injuries are particularly prevalent in the senior population.
In addition to falls, merely slipping on ice can cause back injuries as you try to catch your balance. Add to this the potential for falls and injuries while hanging up lights or cleaning out gutters and you’ve got a perfect storm for wintertime back injuries.
What You Can Do
To reduce the potential for injury during the winter, avoid icy areas. If this isn’t possible, walk very slowly across icy areas, and wear slip-resistant shoes. When taking care of household chores like cleaning gutters or hanging lights, don’t over-extend yourself. Also, make sure you have a partner with you who can steady ladders or help in the event of a fall.
How’s Your Sleep?
Quality sleep is essential for overall wellness, and poor sleep quality can contribute to back pain. Sleeping in an awkward position due to waking during the night can hurt your back, and this becomes a bigger issue if you’re already suffering from a back injury.
On top of that, poor sleep quality can lead to daytime fatigue which may make you less alert to wintertime dangers like icy walkways. Vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun exposure can also diminish your health during the winter as Vitamin D is instrumental in fighting inflammatory conditions.
What You Can Do
With the seasonal time change, it can be hard to adjust to a new sleep pattern, but you can settle into a new routine by getting into bed a bit earlier. It’s also a good idea to avoid distractions like phones and television at least an hour before you plan to get to bed. This will give your brain time to wind down and prepare for restful sleep.
If Vitamin D is a concern, you may also be dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is a condition that can cause disturbed sleep in addition to depression, fatigue, changes in appetite, and more. At Carolinas Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab, we offer VitaBed full-body light therapy as a treatment for SAD. VitaBed full-body light therapy simulates sun exposure and can be used to reduce the symptoms of SAD to improve sleep and overall wellness.
Changes in the Weather
Changes in the weather, or more specifically, changes in barometric pressure, can also lead to wintertime back and joint pain. As barometric pressure changes, it can impact your synovial fluid. This fluid helps lubricate joints, and it’s also what causes the cracking sound when your joints pop. During the colder months, synovial fluid may become slightly less viscous and provide less cushioning for your joints.
Lower temperatures can also affect nerve conductivity, leading to a heightened awareness of pain signals. As pressure changes around the spine, you may also feel more pain from conditions like sciatica or a herniated disc.
What You Can Do
Regular exercise is a great way to combat weather-related back pain. Your body’s core temperature rises with exercise, and regular motion also helps to lubricate your joints. Routine chiropractic care and adjustments along with class IV cold laser therapy can also help improve balance and blood flow for improved wellness and less pain.
Contact Carolinas Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab to Schedule Your Appointment Today
If you’re feeling the pain of winter, contact Carolinas Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab. Our chiropractic physicians in Waxhaw and Pineville can provide relief using advanced techniques and technology designed to give you your life back.
Call Carolinas Chiropractic and Spinal Rehab at (704) 243-1010 to make an appointment, or schedule on the web right now!
