Can Cold Weather Affect Your Muscles?

If you live with an arthritic condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, you might notice that you experience significantly more pain during the colder months. Unfortunately, this often leads to many people avoiding active lifestyle hobbies during the winter months.

Even without any specific condition, most of us are very aware how the body seems to seize up when we are cold, thus causing us to move slower when the muscles become tense and stiff. So, YES, new research does confirm that the cold itself can be responsible for causing muscle stiffness and subsequent injury from poor flexibility. The key is to begin exercising when the muscles are warm, and keep them moving until you're done physical activity. Don't start with cold muscles and don't let them cool down during your workout.

Here's some helpful tips:

Maintain an Active Lifestyle. Keep those muscles and joints moving regularly!

Dress Warmly for any exercise being done in cold weather.

Wear Appropriate Footwear to avoid falls.

Wear a Hat to prevent heat loss from the top of your head.

Avoid Excessive Exposure to the cold. Take breaks and seek warmth.

Chiro Clinic - Dr Ryan Coster enjoys providing the Greater Moncton community with relevant healthcare information to keep active and pain-free! (506) 852-3900

29 Mountain Road, Moncton NB www.ChiroClinicMoncton.ca