| Frosty windows, freezing temperatures, and ice | | | | - Regulate your weight by getting the right |
| roads can only mean one thing: we are in winters | | | | nutrients. This way you keep your joints healthy, |
| grip. For some, winter stirs up happy visions of | | | | and prevent your weight from hindering your joint |
| skiing, cosy fireplaces, and Christmas pudding; for | | | | movement. |
| others, miserable cold and creaky joints. | | | | - Sleeping on a firm mattress is strongly advised |
| The winter season can be very hard on aching | | | | for everyone " not just people with back or |
| joints, with the cold making particularly stiff and | | | | shoulder problems. While there is no universal ideal |
| painful. A decrease in joint mobility and flexibility | | | | mattress, choosing the right mattress for you is |
| usually arises in both men and women when they | | | | not only important to getting enough sleep every |
| have reached the age of 50, making the what | | | | night, but essential to preventing morning |
| seem like simple daily movements " such as | | | | joint-stiffness. |
| walking or picking things up " especially painful. | | | | - If you are suffering from arthritis (or early |
| Various top osteopaths have agreed to share | | | | symptoms of the disease), you are advised to |
| some of their tips on how to get the most out of | | | | use assistive devices (such as knee, wrist, elbow, |
| your joints this winter: | | | | or other joint braces) on the most painful areas. |
| TIPS FOR MEN | | | | HOW OSTEOPATHY CAN HELP |
| - Avoid lifting heavy objects as much as possible | | | | Consulting an osteopath can be useful in many |
| - Take care when carrying heavy loads on your | | | | respects, especially because they can help |
| back or shoulders " you do not want to put too | | | | diagnose what problems you have (joint pains can |
| much pressure on your knee joints. | | | | often be early symptoms of either Osteoarthritis |
| FEMALE-SPECIFIC TIPS | | | | or Rheumatoid Arthritis, so it is important to be |
| - Avoid wearing heels higher than 4cm; this | | | | cognisant of these problems before they get |
| prevents further injury to the back, knees, and | | | | worse), and devise a treatment plan that suits |
| ankles. | | | | your needs. Through a combination of exercises, |
| - Refrain from carrying heavy handbags, as they | | | | massages, and therapeutic techniques, osteopaths |
| can be damaging to the joints in the long term. | | | | can help minimize your symptoms and use their |
| TIPS FOR BOTH GENDERS | | | | expertise about the muscular-skeletal system to |
| - Be sure your joints are covered up when going | | | | your advantage. |
| out into the cold. Stockings or socks that cover | | | | A lot of the tips above are not just specific to |
| the knees are a must. The same goes long | | | | the winter season, but with sub-zero |
| gloves, jumpers, etc. | | | | temperatures, it is important to take extra |
| - After spending time in the cold, take a bath or | | | | caution to protect your sensitive joints. But as |
| shower and loosen up your joints in warm water. | | | | long as you keep them warm and mobile, there is |
| - Follow a regular exercise routine that test the | | | | no reason why your joints should cause you |
| range and mobility of your joints. But know your | | | | problems this winter. |
| limits " stop when things become too painful. | | | | |