The month of October makes most people think of pumpkin spice lattes, vibrant leaves, and Halloween costumes. But here at Premier Orthopaedics, we have something else we keep an eye out for, too, because it's also the time of year known as National Spine Health...
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September is National Vascular Disease Awareness Month
As September starts, it's National Vascular Disease Awareness Month. This is a great time to learn about the health of our veins and arteries. Vascular diseases include problems like deep vein thrombosis and peripheral arterial disease. Read on to learn how to keep...
Causes & Treatment Options for Sciatica
Pain that starts in the lower back and radiates down the back of the leg is what is commonly referred to as sciatica. The pain follows the path of the sciatic nerve down the leg which means that typically, only one side of the body is affected. The sensation that...
How to Stay Fit During Winter
Staying in shape during the winter can be challenging, especially if you’re still healing from an injury. Cold weather is known to lead to stiff and achy joints, and even the healthiest of athletes can have a hard time during the winter months.
However, there are some great tricks you can use to stay fit, so once spring arrives, you’ll be ready to get outside and enjoy your favorite activities once again.
Make Healthy Eating Choices
It’s common to gain weight during the fall and winter months because there are so many holidays to celebrate. We pull out all the stops during this time of year and enjoy the delicious treats we’re better at avoiding for the rest of the year. But it’s important that you maintain a healthy diet during the winter months so you can maintain your regular exercising habits.
Increasing your intake of fruits, vegetables, and healthy starches, and maintain a healthy exercise routine, which can keep you from getting sick during cold and flu season. You also want to stay on top of your fluid intake since proper hydration is key to a healthy immune system, fast post-workout recovery, and detoxifying your body after less-than-healthy meals.
Hit the Gym After Work
One of the biggest challenges many of us face during the winter is finding a good time to work out. Shorter days and less light mean that those late evening runs you enjoyed during the summer are less likely to be on the top of your to-do list. The best thing you can do is to hit the gym directly after work. Think about how nice it will feel to loosen up those muscles after sitting at your desk all day.
After long periods of inactivity, your muscles can feel tense and achy. But going to the gym can help to relieve that stress so when you get home, you feel much more relaxed and ready to enjoy your time. You may also find that those extra moments spent sleeping in during your morning routine makes for a more pleasant morning.
Go for a Walk Outside
This may seem counterintuitive because it’s cold, but there’s actually a twofold reason that getting outside during winter is great for you. First, our bodies get used to certain climates depending on where we spend our time. So when you spend time bundled up outside, it starts to not feel quite so cold as your body gets used to the low temperatures. In addition, you’ll be able to enjoy the scenery and still see your neighbors.
The other reason for getting outside even when it’s freezing is to get some vitamin D. One of the reasons people get sick in the winter is because they lack this vital nutrient. Just 10 to 15 minutes in the sunshine, even if it’s just your face that’s exposed, can go a long way to keeping you healthy so you can keep up with your regular exercising during winter.
For information about how rehabilitation and non-operative methods can help relieve your pain, click here to download our eBook Understanding Your Options: The Non-Operative Guide for Sports and Spine Injuries.