Why You Feel Worse In Winter

We’re approaching the middle of winter, and at our physio clinic near Epsom a lot of people are telling us their aches and pains feel worse at this time of year. Does that happen to you? If it does, don’t worry. It is not a figment of your imagination. There is a lot of research to suggest that our bodies don’t cope as well during colder weather and we experience more discomfort as a result.

Some research says that a drop in temperature can affect joints and connective tissues, making them less supple. That stiffness is certainly to be expected at this time of year, and the resulting sore joints are common in many of us. But scientists say there may be other causes behind that increased winter pain, and one of them may be the link between our mood and our physical wellbeing.

Let’s face it. Not many of us feel at our brightest during winter. On cold days, we stay inside for hours on end, hidden from mood-enhancing sunlight, and we feel lower as a result. But while our spirits flag, our perception of pain increases, and there’s plenty of scientific evidence to back this up. It’s important to make an extra effort in winter to brave the elements and get some exercise or to visit friends. And on those days of extreme weather, you can do some physical activity indoors as a way to lift your spirits.

Staying active during winter is one of our biggest recommendations when it comes to minimising pain. During the colder months, we do less. We stay in bed longer, sit on the couch for more than we should, and we forego the exercise we usually enjoy in warmer weather. Our bodies in general, and our joints in particular, need regular exercise year-round. When that doesn’t happen, those aches and spins kick in as the body’s way of saying that it needs to move. When you get those signals, it’s time to get up and get active.

Whatever the time of year, pain is pain and we specialise in helping you live without it.  So if you have a few aches you can’t shake, don’t wait for summer in the hope that the warmer weather will get rid of it. After all, it might have nothing to do with the weather and could be a condition that requires immediate treatment. Do something about it now by getting in touch with the team at Cairnhill Physio.