health for your
SEASONAL HEALTH
Cold weather and arthritis
HIGHLY CONCENTRATED
By John Gallucci Jr.
WINTER IS HERE and the
cold air is flowing in. As a
physical therapist, I see
repeatedly an increase in
patient complaints every fall
and winter.
The most common
symptoms are pain, swelling and stiffness in
the joints. Is it the cold weather? Maybe, but
it is the change in people’s lifestyles too. In
the Northeast we see a dramatic change in
patients’ lifestyles due to daylight becoming
shorter and the weather making it more diffi-
cult to keep active. Exercise assists with all of
the symptoms of arthritis, so a decrease in
activity will probably cause an increase in
arthritic symptoms.
Arthritis is inflammation (or swelling) of
one or more joints. Research has shown that
there are 100 different types of arthritis,
which involves the breakdown of cartilage.
Cartilage normally protects a joint, allowing it
to move smoothly, and absorbs shock when
pressure is placed on the joint, such as during walking. Without the normal amount of
cartilage, the bones meeting at the joint rub
together, causing pain, swelling and stiffness.
There are several easy ways to decrease
arthritis symptoms this winter. First, continue
good physical activity to maintain the integrity of your joints. Daily activity helps to
increase circulation, which decreases swelling and stiffness, and is the preferred treatment for osteoarthritis and other types of
joint inflammation. Exercise can also help
relieve pain and fatigue, and improve muscle
and bone strength.
Other activities to follow during the winter months include low-impact aerobics,
range-of-motion exercises for flexibility,
strength training for muscle tone, heat or ice-water therapy, massage and sleep. Sleeping
eight to 10 hours a night and taking naps during the day can help you recover from a flare-up more quickly and may even help prevent
flare-ups. Also, don’t stay in one position for
too long, and avoid positions or movements
that place extra stress on sore joints.
It might also be good to change your
home to make activities easier. For example,
install grab bars in the shower, the tub and
near the toilet, and do stress-reducing activities such as yoga. Eat a healthy diet full of
fruits and vegetables, which contain important vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin
E. If possible, avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine, as these products have a drying effect
on cartilage. If you are overweight, weight
loss can greatly relieve joint pain in the legs
and feet. Ten minutes of gentle stretching
exercises every morning to relax stiff muscles can also help.
If you have arthritis symptoms, these
easy tips should help you deal with the
colder months of winter. If your symptoms
persist, be sure to follow up with your physician. Your physician will make decisions
based on the exacerbation of symptoms and
likely treat you with pharmacological agents
and formal physical therapy treatment. C
Costco member John Gallucci Jr. is president
of JAG Physical Therapy (
http://jagpt.com) and
medical coordinator for Major League Soccer.
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DECEMBER 2011 ;e Costco Connection 69