Winter Aches and Pains
With the colder season in full swing, many of us no longer engage in the activity we used to in the summer. That, combined with the changes in weather can often cause arthritis to flare up. There are many ways to help prevent these winter aches and pain from getting the better of us. One of the best ways is to perform gentle exercises in your home on a daily basis. Exercise will help maintain the health of your joints, the flexibility of your muscles and increase your energy levels. Staying active is important during the winter, especially if you are experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. The SAD symptoms will often lead to less activity, strength and tolerance for your favorite hobbies causing a downward spiral into poor health.
If you happen to be experiencing a flare up of arthritic pain, either from weather changes or lack of activity there are many gentle alternatives to regular exercise, such as isometrics. Isometric exercises maintain a steady position while you flex your muscles for a short period of time. Since your arm or leg isn’t moving, you will not get irritate the arthritis. Your muscles stay strong and your joints stay stability and your circulation increases. Always remember to breathe continuously during exercise and stop if it causes any discomfort.
During painful flare ups you need to protect your joints, but that doesn’t mean sitting and resting all day; you have to stay active. When you are active during a flare up, be sure to:
- Protect the smaller joints – use the big ones instead
- Avoid repetitive activity – if you have to get a big project done, do it in small parts throughout the day instead of all at once
- Avoid awkward positions – these can slowly take their toll, so don’t hyper-extend or hyper-flex your joints.
If you have any questions call your doctor or physical therapist.
Filed under: Arthritis, Common Aches & Pains, General Health Tips