Winter poses more of a threat to our bodies than any other time of year. Unlike summer, where warmer weather offers an opportunity for increased outdoor activities like running, hiking, and fishing, winter limits these opportunities due to poor weather conditions (snow, ice) and cold temperatures. The chilly weather also comes with adversities like windburns, and dry skin, and so on.
These problems might be annoying but they’re more than bearable; what most affects our quality of life are the orthopedic disorders that tend to increase during winter time. Whether it’s because we do less physical activity so our muscles aren’t as toned or the cold weather simply makes us stiffer, there are ways to prevent these problems from happening or at least lessen their impact! Here’s a list of tips for dealing with some common orthopaedic issues this winter season.
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Toe Issues
When you have toe injuries or conditions that cause pain when walking, you can usually wrap an elastic bandage around your toes, then place a sock over them before putting on your shoes. This
method will give you added support and protection against material irritants that worsen whatever condition you have. If this doesn’t work for you, custom orthotics help give you the support you need.
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Arthritis
Arthritis develops when the cartilage that lines the joints wears away over time. There are two kinds of arthritis: osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OA mainly affects adults over 45; RA can affect people at any age, but occurs more often between 40 and 60 years of age. Both diseases are more prevalent in winter, especially RA, because of its association with cold weather. Symptoms include fatigue, general aches and pains, fever, and swollen joints.
Arthritis treatment for both OA and RA depends on how severe the disease is. There is a wide range of medications available to treat arthritis, including anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and steroids. However, these only mask the pain rather than fixing the problem or preventing it from getting worse. People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can also benefit from physical therapy. Additionally, those who engage in regular exercise have been shown to have less knee pain from OA than those who do not exercise.
3. Back pain
The majority of back pain cases develop from mechanical irritation of a disc, a ligament, or a facet joint. The pain is often made worse by any movement of the back.
By keeping your back supple with regular stretching and strengthening exercises, you can prevent future problems. A gentle massage can help to reduce muscle tension and relieve pain, while ice packs applied 10 minutes on then 10 minutes off can numb the area for up to 20 minutes.
4. Knee problems
Most knee injuries occur when you bend your knee too far, which can damage the ligaments (the tissue that holds your joints in place) and cause pain.
If you suffer from arthritis in the knees, it will make this problem worse. To avoid damage or injury, try to keep your legs in good condition by doing knee strengthening exercises, taking gentle walks each day, doing regular stretching, and avoiding kneeling on hard surfaces.
5. Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps are often caused by a deficiency of potassium, magnesium, or calcium. If you’re susceptible to these types of spasms, eat more foods that contain these minerals during the winter season – but just be careful not to take supplements without consulting your doctor first.
Adding anti-inflammatory drugs to your diet could help relieve some discomfort related to muscle aches and soreness. However, this should only be done if necessary because it can have severe detrimental effects when taken over an extended period.
The best thing you can do for muscle soreness is to stretch before exercising or getting up in the morning after a night’s rest, as well as use foam rollers to ease the tension that builds up in certain areas of your body. You can also try leg massages after long periods of sitting to keep blood flowing through all of your legs instead of relying on exercise as the only means of doing so.
6. Tendonitis
Tendinitis is an orthopedic problem resulting in swelling and pain in either the Achilles tendon, the hamstring or so forth. It affects one in five people at some point during their lives and is a common ailment that’s often worsened by winter weather.
By using a heating pad or ice pack, however, you can quickly decrease inflammation and ease pain from tendonitis without putting too much strain on your joints!
7. Loss of Cartilage
When cartilage decreases in volume or quality, it leads to discomfort and stiffness. The best way to deal with this issue is to decrease the stress on your joints by taking frequent breaks during your exercise routine.
If you are struggling with joint discomfort after a workout, ice your joints for 10–20 minutes at one time to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
8. Loss of flexibility
Loss of flexibility happens as we age because our ligaments begin to stiffen. That’s why it is so important to maintain your flexibility throughout life to avoid arthritis, which can cause
debilitating pain if left untreated or unaddressed. It is best to stretch before engaging in any strenuous physical activity, but if that isn’t possible you could always try foam rolling exercises instead. These mimic what using a foam roller does for your muscles, which is to increase your flexibility by lengthening the ligaments in your body.
If you start to feel pain or discomfort in any joint, it’s important to see an orthopedic doctor or for professional consulting, seek for a second opinion from highly qualified specialists at SeekMed. For more information regarding diagnosis, simply search the terms “orthopedic doctor near me” or “best orthopaedic doctor near me” on the web.
