Maintaining mobility, proper spinal alignment, and regular chiropractic care can help prevent winter aches, improve function, and keep the body strong throughout the winter season.
How does cold weather affect muscles and joints?
Dr. Scott Gardner: So cold weather can reduce blood flow, which can cause muscles to become stiffer. Also, inactivity because of cold weather can lead to joint stiffness and aches. So, it’s almost like that bear going into hibernation. So, lack of motion, the body tightens up and is not happy.
What are the most common injuries you see in your practice during the winter months?
Dr. Scott Gardner: The most common injuries we see during winter months are low back pain, neck pain, shoulder or arm pain, usually due to shoveling snow or slipping on the ice or even out enjoying winter sports.
For a new patient who has suffered an injury, what can they expect when they come to your clinic for help?
Dr. Scott Gardner: So, we perform a thorough evaluation beginning with two preliminary tests to see if there’s even a possibility that the person is a candidate for chiropractic care because of subluxation being the root of the problem.
The first thing we do is a posture evaluation. Posture is one of the most important things that we can ever look at because it really is an inward reflection as to what’s going on with the spine.
Second, we have them lie down and we feel the bones and muscles in the spine. Again, checking to see if there’s a chance that subluxation is at the root of a problem.
Now, if either test is positive, then we’ll do a thorough history followed by the appropriate orthopedic and neurological testing. Then we’ll do any necessary digital x-rays and a computerized postural analysis to determine the degree or the severity of subluxation.
If neither one of the initial tests are positive, then it means that subluxation wouldn’t be at the root of a problem and we would do our best to refer them to the doctor that we think would be best for them.
What can people do to reduce stiffness and prevent strains before they happen?
Dr. Scott Gardner: Creating a daily routine is probably the biggest key, that consistency, including stretches, joint mobility, and balance. This can be literally done in four to five minutes, doing a sequence of movements.
Something as simple as going on YouTube and putting in “functional warmup” will lead to a bunch of different examples of this. Adding in regular chiropractic care offers many benefits, including increased range of motion, decrease or no pain, boosting immune system function, also improving quality of sleep and boosting energy.
How can regular chiropractic care help prevent winter injuries?
Dr. Scott Gardner: An optimal functioning spine and nervous system equals optimal health. When the spine is in the normal alignment, we are at our strongest. This helps to prevent physical injuries from shoveling and winter sports but also helps to handle the stresses of our daily life better, but especially during the cold weather season.
Learn More
If you are interested in speaking with the doctor please visit www.gardnerfamilychiro.com or call 973-614-9256 to schedule an appointment.
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