5 Easy Ways to Deal with Joint Pain & Stiffness During Winter

by Laura P. Consultant

People with joint pains or arthritis can have a hard time during the colder months. Joints tend to become stiffer, especially in the morning when you wake up. They are more painful and can hamper your normal movement.

However, as winter approaches, doctors provide a set of tips to arthritis patients to tackle stiffness and pain in the joints.

1. Stretch and move your body during winter

Well, this holds true for any season but is more important during the cold months. Stretching and moving the body keep your blood circulation good. It warms up your body. This helps your joints.

When people have joint pain, they hesitate to exercise. However, simple stretching exercises are great to combat joint pain and stiffness. Physical activities like cycling, walking, and swimming can keep your joints fit during winter.

Doctors recommend arthritis patients to do moderately intense aerobic exercises for a minimum of 150 minutes per week combined with weekly strength training sessions. However, this is not for all patients. Your exercise regime will depend on the severity of your condition.

For an elaborate and customized exercise plan, please consult a doctor at the family medical walk in clinic in Arlington. Doctors here are equipped to handle cases of joint pains and stiffness, body pains and aches, and other such common ailments.

2. Keep yourselves hydrated

It's important to mention this point here because most people tend to forget to drink water during cold months. You don't feel like drinking water. However, you must continue to gulp your 8-10 glasses of water in winter too. A dehydrated body can make joints more sensitive to pain.

3. Stay warm

Ensure to keep the affected joint area covered and warm, especially when outdoors. Put in extra layers. For example, if your knees are sensitive, don warm knee caps. If the joint of your fingers are sensitive, which typically happens in the case of rheumatoid arthritis, wear a glove.

4. Have warm baths

Avoid too hot showers. This may dry your skin. But avoid cold showers, too, although many medical experts promote cold showers during winter to keep your metabolism healthy. However, cold showers are not for people suffering from joint pains, especially during winter. Bathe in warm water. This serves as hydrotherapy for your joint pain and warms up the joints.

If your joints are in pain, add a cup of Epsom salt to your bathwater. Soak your aching joints in this water for 30 minutes. If you find no relief, please visit Arlington doctors office and consult a doctor.

5. Take Vitamin D supplements

According to studies, Vitamin D is beneficial to patients with arthritis. At times, a deficiency of this vitamin can trigger joint pain and stiffness. However, please consult a doctor before you start taking any supplement.

A family medical walk in clinic in Arlington is designed to provide immediate primary medical care to the whole family. Whether you are suffering from joint pain or pain in any area of the body, including headaches, you can walk in the clinic and seek immediate treatment with no hassles of a prior appointment.

Arlingtonvaimmediatecare.com is a popular family medical walk in clinic in Arlington, providing excellent medical care on an urgent basis. Walk in the Arlington doctors office without an appointment. Visit the site today.