The colder weather is upon us, and for many of my patients it's time to think about how to prevent back pain in Bristol this Winter.
It’s that time of year with the onset of colder and wetter weather when so many of us feel that urge to hunker down and often get a little less active.
As the winter days draw in, and the weather gets colder and wetter, there's a great temptation to go into hibernation mode.
With this comes less activity and often more sitting, and as a result my Henleaze Osteopathic clinic starts getting busier.
No surprise here, but it is vital to highlight that the key element for good back health is to stay active throughout the Winter season in Bristol.
Posture plays a major part with many patient back issues that I treat.
Read this article I wrote recently on the link between posture and back pain.
At Alex Prince Osteopathy we believe that prevention is better than cure, so here’s a blog with some tips to help you prevent back pain this Winter.
As an experienced Osteopath in Henleaze, some of my top tips include:
1. Keep dry and warm
The body functions best when warm and the effects of the wet and cold can be detrimental to overall body health and leave us vulnerable to seasonal bugs.
2. Stay active with Winter activities such as running or walking
Fresh air key to mental and physical health. Outdoor exercise even if at low intensity is great for the body, and by all means head to the gym.
Some have the urge to cold water swim - try it! I love it. It’s so good for holistic health, but make sure you warm up really well afterwards.
3. Warm up and stretch
Before and after exercise give yourself time to warm up and warm down. Gently stretch out warm muscles and build in some key core exercises.
This is so important for injury prevention.
4. Get plenty of sleep
You don’t have to resist that hibernation urge - make sure you get enough sleep, and listen to your body clock.
5. Eat well
This is vital in Winter. Maintain a healthy, seasonal, nutritional diet and supplement if necessary.
This will keep the body systems healthier and help Winter bugs stay away.
How do I get help for back pain in Winter?
If you unfortunate enough to pick up a back injury or are in pain, we are here to help.
At Alex Prince Osteopathy we are experienced in treating and managing injuries to the whole body, including back pain.
We want you to get back to full activity as soon as possible, and to be the healthiest you can be.
I also recommend that you read this article on how to prevent back pain.
To find out more about the full range of osteopathic treatments provided at Alex Prince Osteopathy in Bristol, please visit here for details.