5 Tips for Cold Weather Pain Relief 

As temperatures drop and winter sets in, many people experience muscle aches and body pain due to cold weather. Whether you have chronic pain made worse by cooler temps or injured yourself slipping on ice, finding relief can be challenging. Find out why our bodies ache more in the wintertime and check out the following tips and treatments for joint pain in cold weather. 

Can Cold Weather Make Your Body Ache? 

If you’ve noticed that your body aches more in cold weather, you’re not alone. Joint and muscle pain due to cold weather are common for people with chronic pain conditions, arthritis, a history of injury, and those who live in four season climates. There are several reasons why our bodies hurt more when it’s cold outside, including: 

• Cool, dry air can cause dehydration and irritate sensitive or dry skin. 
• Body aches and pains are normal symptoms of the flu and sometimes the common cold. 
• Shoveling snow and ice might lead to injury from lifting heavy snow or slipping and falling. 
• Chilly weather affects the viscosity of synovial fluid, the natural lubricant that surrounds our joints, leading to stiffness and joint discomfort. 
• Outer extremities like hands, fingers, feet, and toes are more sensitive to pain and cold as our blood flows to our core to keep internal organs warm. 

How Do I Stop My Body from Hurting in Cold Weather? 

With freezing temperatures and less daylight hours, winter can be hard on our health. We feel more tired, experience increased aches, and have trouble staying active. However, there are ways you can treat and prevent discomfort from cold weather and joint pain. Start enjoying this winter and consider the following cold weather joint pain remedies and tips. 

Dress Appropriately 

Staying warm is essential to combatting wintertime aches and pains. Dressing in light layers and wearing protective outerwear like hats, gloves, and insulated boots protects your extremities from cold sensitivity. Wear shoes that have deep tread to avoid slipping on icy surfaces.  

Wearing appropriate clothing also keeps your muscles warm, which can retain flexibility and reduce stiffness, giving you relief from joint pain and aches. 

Exercise Regularly 

Regular exercise in the winter is extremely beneficial. Stronger, healthier muscles cope better with the cold, and moving your body promotes circulation to keep you and your hands and feet warm. Plus, stretching before a workout of any kind improves blood flow around the joints, tendons, and muscles to prevent pain and reduce the chance of injury. 

Use Doctor Hoy’s® for Joint Pain Relief 

While some might turn to over-the-counter medications to ease muscle aches and pains, you can also relieve pain from wintry weather using a natural alternative. Doctor Hoy’s Natural Pain Relief Roll-on Gel is easy to apply and uses natural ingredients like camphor and menthol for fast acting relief. 

Doctor Hoy’s topicals feature arnica montana, a natural anti-inflammatory for muscle strains, joint pain, sprains and more making them ideal for cold weather joint pain relief. Plus, our Arnica Boost Recovery Cream moisturizes dry skin and promotes faster healing so you can feel good inside and out. 

Our topical pain relief gel and arnica cream are safe to use repeatedly, unlike OTC medications like NSAIDs that can have several side effects or interfere with your supplements. Apply a thin layer of gel or cream directly onto the affected area and experience instant relief from cold weather-related pain. 

Stay Hydrated 

Recognizing that you’re dehydrated is more difficult in the cold compared to when you break a sweat in the summer. However, dehydration is common in the winter due to less humidity in the air and increased heating indoors. Keeping your body hydrated helps lubricate the joints, prevent inflammation, and rid the body of toxins so be sure to drink plenty of water during the day. 

Get Enough Rest 

Our bodies use sleep as an opportunity to rest, heal, and regenerate. Allowing our bodies and minds time to rest reduces muscle fatigue and helps support bodily functions. How much sleep you need depends on your age and activity level. In the winter, however, you might find your body needs more rest than usual and that’s okay. 

On the other hand, some people experience sleeplessness or insomnia in the winter. Check out these tips to improve your sleep naturally so you can get the rest you need all year round. 

How to Reduce Aches & Pains from Cold Weather 

Cold weather joint pain and muscle aches are frustrating for everyone, but you can take steps to reduce their severity and frequency. Along with staying active, warm, and hydrated, use Doctor Hoy’s for natural, fast-acting pain relief this winter.

References:

McGowan CJ, Pyne DB, Thompson KG, Rattray B. Warm-Up Strategies for Sport and Exercise: Mechanisms and Applications. Sports Med. 2015;45(11):1523-1546. doi:10.1007/s40279-015-0376-x 

Smith AG, Miles VN, Holmes DT, Chen X, Lei W. Clinical Trials, Potential Mechanisms, and Adverse Effects of Arnica as an Adjunct Medication for Pain Management. Medicines (Basel). 2021;8(10):58. Published 2021 Oct 9. doi:10.3390/medicines8100058 

Popkin BM, D'Anci KE, Rosenberg IH. Water, hydration, and health. Nutr Rev. 2010;68(8):439-458. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x 

Why Cold Weather Increases Joint Pain and Stiffness - Temecula, CA. (2020, January 28). Horst Chiropractic. https://www.horst-chiropractic.com/why-does-cold-weather-make-joint-pain-worse/