Provide your joints extra care this winter to prevent excruciating pain; staying active is must: Dr Shubhang Aggarwal

With the onset of winters, chances of developing painful knees, hips and back, become quite high. Dr. Shubhang Aggarwal, Orthopaedic & Robotic Joint Replacement Surgeon and Director, NHS Hospital, Jalandhar said in order to combat winter joint pains and stiffness, it is essential to keep your body active even in the colder months.

More than 50 per cent of the people feel less motivated to step outside and rather feel more inclined to stay home, where it’s cosy and warm when the outside temperatures drop. But, regular exercise can certainly help to fight that stiffness, pain and improve general wellbeing.

Generally, the cold weather causes muscles to stiffen up, the joint cartilage nutrition decreases and in general metabolism slows down. Therefore, it becomes mandatory to keep your body active, even in the winter months, to maintain flexibility and burn those calories that we all take in. While you shouldn’t work out in significant joint pain without the assistance of a medical professional, stiff or achy joints shouldn’t mean cancelled gym membership. An exercise protocol with Low impact activity helps to keep your joints healthy. Try indoor swimming in a warm pool, stretching with yoga or Pilates, brisk walking, and weight training to keep your body active and fit,” said Dr Shubhang Aggarwal, Orthopaedic & Robotic Joint Replacement Surgeon, NHS Hospital, Jalandhar.

Hand-in-hand with winter often comes weight gain. Over the festive season, healthy habits tend to slide a bit and many people gain extra weight. One shouldn’t forget the fact that even a small amount of excess weight will start to affect our knees and other joints. When stepping out in winters, ensure that we have worn plenty of layers and keep ourselves bundled up.

“Preparedness in advance always helps ease winter discomfort. Warm clothing will help you feel more comfortable going outside, getting fresh air and exercise. Cold fingers and toes tend to ache and feel sore, whether joint pain is the underlying culprit. Keep gloves handy. Warm clothing will help you feel more comfortable going outside, getting fresh air and exercising. It’s the best way through which one can stay active,” Dr Aggarwal added.

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