With winter approaching so begins the cold and blustery weather that can leave our bodies feeling tight, tired and fragile – particularly for those who suffer with muscle or joint pain.
Here we offer five top tips for keeping aches and pains at bay this winter, helping to avoid soreness and discomfort during the winter months.
Try to exercise
Maintaining regular exercise through the winter can help to keep our muscles and joints more flexible and relaxed despite the chilly conditions. Whatever activity you choose, always remember to stretch and warm up before hand, so to avoid pulls and strains of the affected areas.
Change your diet
Alterations to our diet over the winter period can help to ease muscle and joint complaints. Omega 3 fatty acids, Vitamin C and Vitamin D are all essential to maintaining our bodies through cold weather so aim to eat plenty of oily fish, vegetables and citrus fruits such as oranges.
Stay hydrated
Although we tend to favour hot drinks such as tea and coffee during the winter it is also important to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated during the colder months can have a positive effect on muscle and joint injuries as it helps to keeps our body tissues healthy.
Remember to relax
It is important to take to time to relax and recline during the winter, allowing our bodies to rest and heal. If you suffer from muscle and joint pain it is also recommended to regularly enjoy a long, hot bath – as this encourages blood vessels to dilate and relaxes the muscles.
Consider Osteopathic treatment
Osteopathic treatment can help to ease seasonal aches and pains through the moving, stretching and massage of affected muscles in order to improve function, preventing issues from re-occurring and working to increase mobility and manage discomfort.
Get in touch
At Solihull Osteopathic Practice we believe that relief from pain can be achieved by careful diagnosis and a clear plan of holistic treatment. To find out more about how we may be able to help beat winter aches and pains, please call our friendly team on 0121 705 4499.
