The colder months bring a lot of exciting things: an escape from the heat, beautiful weather, holidays, cozy sweaters, and more.
However, they can also mean pain for people who are living with cervical spinal stenosis, vertebrogenic low back pain, and other inflammation or spinal problems.
Sounds like you?
If you’re looking for an effective remedy for back pain due to cold weather, this article is for you!
Does Cold Weather Cause Back Pain?
Yes, cold weather can cause back pain.
How? The colder temperatures can cause the muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the spine to tighten – this, in turn, can put a strain on your spine, pulling on the sensitive nerve roots, which can cause pain.
For example, in one study that involved 135,000 construction workers who spent several hours a day working in the cold, researchers found that when compared to people who spent most of their days working inside, the men who worked in colder temperatures had more reported instances of back and neck pain.
Remedy for Back Pain Due to Cold Weather
So, what can you do about it? Here are some effective tips to remember:
- Keep yourself bundled up if you have to be outside in the cold. The warmer you keep your body, the less likely you are to suffer from painful muscle and ligament tightening.
- Stretch and exercise regularly. Keeping limber and training your muscles will also help your back muscles stay loose and strong.
- Avoid pushing yourself too hard while doing outdoor activities. Whether you’re shoveling snow and ice off of your driveway, carrying heavy bags of salt to scatter across the ground, or having fun building snowmen – any of these activities can cause injury when you don’t pace yourself and listen to your body.
The best thing that you can do to either avoid or manage back pain during the winter months is to keep yourself warm, healthy, and limber.
If you are feeling numbness or extreme back pain, we recommend seeing your doctor immediately.
Disclaimer: The information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information contained on this website is for general information purposes only.
