If you have been experiencing heightened back pain this winter, you're not alone. When temperatures drop, back pain tends to rise. Especially if you suffer from lower back pain.
The cold makes you tense up, shoveling snow can put added strain on your lower back, and longer periods of inactivity inside can put stress on your joints. Paired with holiday stressors, seasonal affective disorder and ill-fitting snow boots, the winter season is a recipe for back trouble.
Here are some essential tips and tricks to help relieve your back pain this winter:
1. Exercise often
It can be tempting to lie under a blanket all winter long, but getting your body moving is the best way to prevent injury from occurring in the first place. This is beneficial not only for your back health, but maintaining a limber, flexible body can help prevent all types of injuries, especially in the winter where slips and falls are common.
Working out after work can be hard, especially if the sun sets a little earlier than you'd like. But working out also promotes blood flow, which will help stop your muscles from tensing up in chilly weather. Just keep in mind that you should always lift with your legs, not your back, whether you're pumping iron at the gym or shoveling the snow on your driveway.
Try engaging in healthy activities like stretching, running and swimming to get your blood pumping.
2. Try heat or cold therapy
Resting with a heating pad or cold ice pack can do wonders when it comes to promoting blood flow and reducing inflammation in an injured area. Try alternating between hot and cold treatments and massage therapy for added benefits. For the truly dedicated, an ice bath may do the trick. Talk to your medical clinic about other forms of therapy that can help mitigate chronic back pain.
3. Seek medical care
Though the aforementioned risk factors play a heavy role in the health of your back, your chronic or acute back pain may be something more serious. To ensure you're taking care of your back properly, be sure to seek urgent medical attention if the pain is severe.
This could include visiting with an experienced chiropractor or contacting your local medical care clinic. Luckily, around 85% of urgent care centers are open seven days a week to provide the convenient health care you need. Contact Indigo Urgent Care today when you're ready to relieve your back pain.
