How to Prevent Back Pain During Winter

As winter slowly begins to hit in NYC, and the temperature falls, the chances of developing acute back pain rise. Although for some people, back pain can often be a year-round problem, it is often exacerbated during the long, cold winter months. Back pain can be inflamed by just performing regular chores and activities so it is important to keep an eye on yourself during the winter months.

• Shoveling is not a race, keep a steady pace instead of rushing to not exhaust yourself. When that happens, your body is more prone to not maintaining proper support.
• When shoveling, remember to lift with your legs and not your back, knees bent while lifting, and don’t bend or twist.
  
• Layer up when going outdoors and wear gear that provides warmth but also allows for ease of motion.
• Wear the right footwear such as shoes with rubber soles. These will provide you with traction and support on snowy and icy areas.
• Warm up your muscles. The colder weather stiffens your muscles so keep limber by stretching in the mornings or evenings.Keeping limber can reduce pressure on muscle tendons and ligaments.
• Cold weather can make your posture worse. We tend to huddle, slouch and shiver more, causing our muscles to tighten and increase the risk of strains so try to keep conscious about your posture.
  
• Avoid binge eating during the holiday season. This extra weight can stress your body and can cause acute back pain.
  
• Try using a heating pad on sensitive areas that are prone to pain.

• Try to take a break from your regular physical activity for the first few days in order to decrease any swelling and do not do any heavy lifting for a few weeks.
• Focus on easy, light aerobic workouts to keep your muscles and ligaments limber to prevent pain.
  
• Exercises such as walking and swimming can promote a healthy healing process by improving your blood flow while strengthening your core and your back.
  
• If you are a side sleeper, sleep in a fetal position, with a pillow between your legs. If you are a back sleeper, tuck a pillow or rolled up towel under your knees. Doing this will help to relieve pressure, especially during colder winter weather.
• Visit a chiropractor for assistance with good posture techniques and implement relevant treatments to realign your back and relieve pain.

Chiropractic care can also assist in the treatment of headaches, sciatica, joint pain or stiffness, muscle spasms and more.

At Spring Street Chiropractic, we have been helping the people of New York City with back pain treatment for more than twenty years. We understand the pain you may be going through, and we will do our best to help you achieve relief without drugs or surgery. If you are in SoHo, Manhattan or Tribeca, NYC contact us today to schedule your appointment.