Winter is just around the corner! Many of us are happy about the arrival of this special season, but not everyone…
For many people, in fact, the cold is not just occasionally uncomfortable — it’s downright painful.
Science confirms it: our body feels the impact of bad weather. According to a UK study titled “Cloudy with a Chance of Pain,” it’s the combination of cold and damp days that causes us trouble.
Why do cold and damp lower our pain threshold?
Prolonged exposure to low temperatures can amplify pain associated with chronic conditions, orthopedic issues, and age-related discomforts. The most affected areas? Back, shoulders, neck, arms, and hands.
This happens because the cold makes us keep our muscles tense longer than usual, causing inflammation, cramps, spasms, and muscle contractures. Cold temperatures also negatively affect our joints. Cold air brings low pressure, and low pressure causes the expansion of soft tissues around the joints. This puts strain on the joints themselves, causing contracted muscles and compressed nerves. Cold can truly worsen the conditions of those who suffer from joint or muscle disorders, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.
How can we deal with cold-related pain?
To help our body cope with physical stress related to the cold, we can do some simple things:
- Avoid sudden temperature changes: going from a warm environment to a cold one can cause muscle stiffness and lead to back pain.
- Pay close attention to clothing, covering hands, neck, shoulders, and lower back — the areas most sensitive to cold.
- Follow a proper diet to fight the cold at the table.
So, can food help?
Some foods can be very useful in warming and relaxing the body and mind:
- Legumes: all types are rich in fiber and help circulation;
- Seasonal vegetables: spinach, chicory, pumpkin, turnips, carrots, and broccoli provide minerals and antioxidant vitamins;
- Fresh seasonal fruit: especially citrus and kiwi, provide good amounts of vitamin C;
- Fish, white meat, and eggs: rich in lean proteins, activate our thermogenesis process, i.e., heat production;
- Nuts: rich in minerals, they help protect the immune system;
- Whole grains: with their high vitamin B content, they provide energy and increase the body’s resistance to cold;
- Herbal teas and tea: warm the body and promote relaxation and detoxification;
- Various spices: ginger, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, cardamom, coriander, and chili. The more the merrier — they help raise body temperature and fight the cold, while also offering other benefits to our system.
And what about physiotherapy?
Last but not least, physiotherapy can and should help with cold-related pain. Here are some remedies we offer our patients, both in the clinic and at home:
- Relaxation exercises: we recommend gentle gymnastics and pilates to relax the muscles, especially of the neck and back, to reactivate circulation throughout the body;
- Decontracting massages: to stimulate circulation, relieve pain, and treat general inflammation;
- Neuromuscular taping: to support the healing process from inflammation and muscle contractures.
Discover all our manual and instrumental treatments on our website.
We are here to help you fight seasonal ailments and relieve all types of pain!
