Back pain in Winter can have many causes: aging vertebrae, heavy lifting, athletic injuries, household accidents, a crooked posture, and plenty more besides. In fact, almost everyone suffers from an aching back at some point. Of course, when this pain is chronic and severe, it can be debilitating.
Many patients with such pain feel that cold weather worsens it. Some people even believe that wintry conditions can cause back pain.
Is there a real connection between back pain and the cold season? And, if there is, how can a person counteract the effects of this frigid time of year?
Low Temperatures, Intense Pain
When December and January roll around, medical professionals often see an influx of patients dealing with back pain. In fact, except for flus and colds, back pain is the number one reason people make special medical appointments during the winter months.
On top of that, joint pain, neck pain, and other types of pain become more common in the winter.
Although more scientific research is needed, some medical studies have directly linked wintry weather and physical pain. In particular, cold temperatures can stiffen some people’s ligaments and tendons. And, when the connective tissues that line the spine are more rigid, they can get inflamed. They can also make it harder and more painful to move around.
How Winter Can Lead to Pain Indirectly
The wintry season can be a beautiful and exciting time. But it can also cause numerous problems, from blizzards to blackouts. And some of those issues can bring about back pain in winter.
For example, people often shovel snow after snowstorms. Well, lifting heavy mounds of snow — especially if you lift with your back muscles instead of your leg muscles — can cause back and spine injuries. Similarly, carrying large and heavy bags of salt around can trigger lumbar pain.
Obviously, falling backwards on ice can cause back pain as well. People can likewise injure themselves while sledding, skiing, and skating.
Moreover, certain ailments are more prevalent in the winter, and those illnesses can cause lumbar pain. For instance, pneumonia, bronchitis, and severe colds can make it harder to breathe. And, over time, labored breathing can irritate the back. Plus, a flu can cause muscle pains of all kinds.
In addition, some people lie down much more often in the winter. You might stay in bed due to a flu, a bad cold, or seasonal depression. Or the cold weather might induce you to laze on the couch or relax by the fire night after night.
Unfortunately, if you slouch or curl your body in a certain way, you might strain your vertebrae or back muscles, which can lead to pain.
Furthermore, many people exercise less during the winter. They might not be able to run or jog. Or they might avoid driving to the gym when it gets dark early or when it’s freezing outside.
However, exercise can help people avoid back soreness. For example, certain stretches can make the ligaments and tendons of the back more flexible. And aerobic exercises can improve the flow of blood throughout the body. As a result, the tissues of the back receive proper nourishment, keeping them from stiffening.
Back Pain in Winter: Prevention and Treatment
As the saying goes, prevention is the best medicine. To prevent lumbar pain during the winter, be as cautious as possible. In particular, you could try to keep these tips in mind:
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- 1. Keep up with your flu and pneumonia vaccines.
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- 2. Always watch out for ice patches when you’re walking.
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- 3. Avoid shoveling as much as possible.
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- 4. If you must shovel, proceed slowly, and only lift light amounts of snow.
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- 5. Maintain a regimen of safe indoor exercising and stretching.
- 6. When you brave the outdoors, do so with a hat, gloves, scarf, thick jacket, and layers of clothing. By staying warm, you may avoid tendon and ligament stiffening.
On the other hand, some types of back pain are simply unavoidable. Thus, if you find that your back is aching between December and March, schedule an appointment with your physician.
Also, you could always visit Tulsa Spine & Rehab. Here, you’ll meet with a chiropractor, a physical therapist, or another specialist. Yes, we provide comprehensive and highly effective courses of treatment for all kinds of pain. Our experts can assess your pain issues and customize a plan of action for you. A pain-free lifestyle could then be yours — in the wintertime and throughout the rest of the year.
