Plummeting temperatures, frozen lakes, and chilly mornings can only mean one thing: winter has arrived. For some, this conjures up memories of pearly-white fields, crackling fireplaces and Christmas feasts; for other, stinging cold and painful joints.

The winter season can be especially difficult if you have joint problems, the cold making them even more stiff and painful than usual. Many people tend to lose mobility and flexibility in their joints when they reach the age of fifty, making what were once simple daily occurrences ” such as walking or lifting things ” quite painful. A few leading osteopaths offer their insights and advice on how to gear up your joints for winter:

TIPS FOR MEN

- Avoid lifting heavy objects as much as possible

- Take care when carrying heavy loads on your back or shoulders ” you do not want to put too much pressure on your knee joints.

ADVICE FOR WOMEN

- Avoid wearing heels higher than 4cm; this prevents further injury to the back, knees, and ankles.

- Carry lighter handbags; heavy handbags can be damaging to your joints in the long run.

TIPS FOR BOTH GENDERS

- Be sure your joints are covered up when going out into the cold. Stockings or socks that cover the knees are a must. The same goes long gloves, jumpers, etc.

- Take a warm bath or shower after spending extensive time in the cold. This, along with underwater exercises, should loosen up your joints.

- Do sets of exercises on a regular basis that test range-motion of your joints. It is important to keep the blood flowing, but know your limits ” stop if it becomes too painful.

- Regulate your weight by getting the right nutrients. This way you keep your joints healthy, and prevent your weight from hindering your joint movement.

- It is important to sleep on a firm mattress, not just for people with back or neck problems, but for everyone. While there is no perfect mattress that works for everyone, choosing a mattress that suits you is not only essential to getting enough rest at night, but is crucial for preventing stiff joints in the mornings.

- If you are suffering from arthritis (or symptoms of arthritis), it is advisable to wear an assistive device (such as knees, wrist, or ankle straps) around the joint that need the most support.

HOW CAN AN OSTEOPATH HELP?

Consulting an osteopath can be useful in many respects, especially because they can help diagnose what problems you have (joint pains can often be early symptoms of either Osteoarthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis, so it is important to be cognisant of these problems before they get worse), and devise a treatment plan that suits your needs. Through a combination of exercises, massages, and therapeutic techniques, osteopaths can help minimize your symptoms and use their expertise about the muscular-skeletal system to your advantage.

A lot of the tips above ring true for other times of year as well, but during the winter we must take extra precautions to protect our joints. As long as you keep your joints covered up and follow an exercise routine, winters cold should not be able to penetrate your skin, or indeed, your joints.