Why Do Aches And Pains Feel Worse In Winter?
Do any of these questions apply to you?
- Are your joints starting to feel stiff lately?
- Do they ache more than usual?
- Have you noticed any clicks and cracks coming from your knees?
If you’re struggling to put your finger on it and you’re not sure why it’s happening to you, then chances are you’re not alone.
Many people just like you are becoming a victim of joint aches & pains in Winter.
Winter Aches & Pains…
This time of year joint pain is one of the most common things we see and treat in the clinic.
For example; It starts with a few clicks of the knees every now and then, but nothing painful, and you think nothing of it. Then as time goes on, when your knees start to click it’s painful. Then they start to ache a bit more (usually around the knee cap, and on the inside of your knee).
Sometimes after you’ve walked around the shops for a few hours they begin to ache and feel sore. And getting back up again after relaxing with a cup of tea on the sofa, you notice it takes a few steps for your knees ‘to get going’ again…
They can even make it difficult for you to get out of your car with ease. And when the cold weather hits, your joints begin to feel even WORSE.
So why does it happen?
And why does it happen more to men and women aged 50+?
Well, there’s a WHOLE bunch of reasons as to why joints in your body become more problematic in the Winter.
But the two most common reasons we see at the clinic are these:
Cold Weather
The cold weather naturally restricts the warmth of the blood that flows around your body. (Which helps keep you warm and mobile).
And in the winter you’re much less likely to keep as active and mobile as you did in the warmer months.
Keeping mobile is just like spraying WD40 on the stiff parts of a bike or car.
Just like a vehicle needs oil to get you from A to B efficiently. Your joints need to keep active so they don’t stiffen up.
Lack of Activity or Exercise in the colder months
And here’s the thing that many people don’t realise – the winter months and long periods of inactivity, can be the root cause of ‘all of a sudden’ life long knee pains.
As your muscles get a long rest this winter, there’s a chance they’ll become weaker and slowly get to the point where they won’t be able to support your knees.
Worse yet, many people don’t even notice it happening until the pain sets in.
But when it does, a chain of events is triggered. And when your knees don’t have the support of strong muscles, problems like arthritis can set in.
Keep Active
Which is why it’s so important to make the most of every opportunity you have this Winter to keep active. That way you can fend off the curse of bad knees creeping up on you as well as other joint aches and pains.
I know it’s easy to think that when the weather begins to warm up you’ll exercise again. Problem is, very few people understand that your muscles need to be strong and stable to exercise safely!
If you go into tough exercise too quick, there’s a chance you’ll injure yourself and make those sore joints feel even worse!
Top Winter Tip!
So my number one tip for you today to keep the winter aches away is to include some kind of activity in your day, every day.
It doesn’t have to be outdoors! You can book into yourself into an exercise class with friends. Do low impact movements that are kind to your joints like Pilates and Yoga from the comfort of your living room and if you have an exercise bike (or something like that), use it while watching your favourite TV programme.
There really is something for everyone.
What are you going to do to keep active this winter?
Can one of our amazing physios help you?
If you have any winter aches, pains or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01285 654059. Or drop us a message on any of our social media channels. Facebook / Instagram / LinkedIn / Twitter.
You can book an appointment or speak to a physio here get in touch.
Let us help you to recover, re-gain your movement and be pain-free!
Why not check out our What Hurts? page. We have advice for each part of the body and free guides to help you to be pain-free – simply Click here.
Thanks for reading…
The Markland Team
Professional Physiotherapy
