Winter Activities & Chiropractic
When snow, ice and frigid weather blast into town, ACA advises people to take all of the necessary precautions to prevent injury. Winter recreational activities and chores can pose problems for the outdoor enthusiast whose body is not conditioned. Winter sports like skating, skiing, and sledding can cause painful muscle spasms, strains or tears if your body hasn’t been properly warmed up. Even shoveling snow the wrong way, slipping on sidewalks and wearing the wrong kinds of clothing can lead to spasms, strains, and sprains.
Simply walking outside in the freezing weather without layers of warm clothing can intensify older joint problems and cause pain. As muscles and blood vessels contract to conserve the body’s heat, the blood supply to extremities is reduced. This lowers the functional capacity of many muscles, particularly among the physically unfit. Preparation for an outdoor winter activity, including conditioning the areas of the body that are most vulnerable, can help you avoid injury and costly health care bills.
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For Your Health,
Dr. Scott Van Dam