PAIN AND COLD(S)

IT’S COLD…

Many people can feel aches or pains a little more over the winter but can dismiss it as a bit of an old wives’ tale.

I had my first ‘cold’ pain though a few weeks ago. My elbow has healed brilliantly but when the temperature plummeted I started to notice a ‘new’ deep ache in my forearm, so I started to investigate…

PAIN IN THE COLD

A study of 1,000 people with low back pain and 350 with knee osteoarthritis showed no link between changes in temperature, rainfall or air pressure. This study was however done in Australia in temperatures between 5 and 32 degrees Celsius… Who knows what a similar study may show when an arctic blast blows into Hove from the English Channel.

A slightly smaller study of those with osteoarthritis in hips, knees or hands (this time in Europe) does show a link between humidity and increased awareness of pain – even more so when it is cold.

There are a number of other studies looking more specifically at various combinations of rainfall, barometric pressure, temperature, humidity and any impact on joint or muscle pain.

COLDS

So the jury is still slightly out, however there are many other ways this cold snap can impact us. Many people are going to be less active – I am writing this inside as opposed to braving a seafront run – and moving less can impact your overall flexibility and joints.

Plus the mechanical stress that sneezing, coughing and spluttering can put on your ribcage and back can mean tight or strained muscles and joints, plus your immune system is busy fighting off the cold with less capacity for dealing with other issues.

OSTEOPATHY CAN HELP

So, ideally keep warm, and keep moving (even if indoors) but whether you have some existing aches or pains that are nagging more when it’s cold, or have something new that is worrying you, osteopathy can help. You can book online at the clinic closest to you so you don’t have to brave the cold for too long 🙂