Medically Reviewed By Dr. Venkatesh Mishra (MPT, MSc Osteopathy, Master in Chiropractic)
Key Takeaways
- Muscle Contraction: Cold weather causes muscles, ligaments, and tendons to tighten, increasing the risk of spasms and stiffness.
- Barometric Changes: Changes in air pressure can cause joint tissues to expand, leading to increased pressure on the spine.
- Reduced Circulation: Blood flow decreases to the extremities and joints in the cold, slowing down the body’s natural healing processes.
- The “Winter Slump”: Reduced physical activity and seasonal mood changes can lower your threshold for pain.
- Professional Relief: Advanced manual therapies like Chiropractic adjustments and Osteopathy are highly effective at restoring mobility during winter.
As the temperature drops in Lucknow, many of our patients at VS Physiotherapy, Osteopathy & Chiropractic Clinic report a significant “flare-up” in their chronic back pain. If you feel like your spine is stiffer or more sensitive during the winter months, you aren’t imagining it, there are physiological reasons why the cold exacerbates back issues.
The Science Behind Cold-Weather Back Pain
1. Muscle Tightness and Spasms
When exposed to cold, the body’s natural defense is to “huddle up” or shiver to maintain core temperature. This causes your muscles to stay in a state of constant contraction. Tight muscles in the lower back limit your range of motion and pull on the vertebrae, often leading to acute pain or a “locked” back.
2. Barometric Pressure Shifts
Before a cold front or rain hits, the barometric pressure in the atmosphere drops. This decrease in pressure allows the tissues in your joints to slightly expand. In an already crowded spinal column, especially for those with a Disc Bulge or Sciatica. This expansion can put extra pressure on sensitive nerves.
3. Reduced Blood Flow
In cold weather, the body prioritizes sending blood to vital organs, reducing circulation to the skin and musculoskeletal system. Less blood flow means less oxygen and nutrients reaching your spinal discs and muscles, making them less pliable and more prone to injury.
4. Heightened Nerve Sensitivity
For patients with pre-existing conditions like Fibromyalgia or chronic nerve irritation, the cold can actually lower the pain threshold. The nerves become more “excitable,” meaning they signal pain to the brain more quickly than they would in a warmer environment.
How VS Physiotherapy Addresses Winter Back Pain
At our clinic, led by Dr. Venkatesh Mishra, we don’t just treat the symptoms; we address the structural changes the cold causes in your body. We use a combination of world-class modalities available right here in Lucknow:
- Chiropractic Adjustments: Using Dr. Mishra’s expertise as a Master in Chiropractic, we perform precise spinal manipulations to ensure that cold-induced muscle tightness hasn’t pulled your spine out of alignment.
- Osteopathic Manual Therapy: This holistic approach focuses on improving circulation and lymphatic drainage, helping to “warm up” the tissues from the inside out and restore fluid movement.
- Dry Needling: For those stubborn winter muscle knots (trigger points), dry needling provides instant release, allowing the muscle to relax and reducing the pull on your lower back.
- Myofascial Release (MFR): We use specialized soft tissue mobilization to break down the stiffness in the fascia, the connective tissue that often hardens in cold temperatures.
- Heat Therapy & Electrotherapy: We utilize advanced equipment to provide deep-tissue heating, which increases blood flow and prepares the body for more active rehabilitation.
Tips to Protect Your Back This Winter
- Layer Up: Keep your lower back warm with thermal wear to prevent muscles from seizing.
- Stay Active: Gentle stretching or Clinical Pilates (available at our clinic) keeps the joints lubricated.
- Stay Hydrated: Dehydration makes spinal discs more susceptible to the effects of pressure changes.
- Professional Assessment: If pain persists for more than 48 hours, it’s a sign that the cold has aggravated an underlying issue.
Expert Care in Lucknow
Don’t let the winter season keep you bedridden. With over 15 years of experience and specialized training from Sweden and Canada, Dr. Venkatesh Mishra offers the most comprehensive spine care in the region.
VS Physiotherapy Osteopathy Center and Chiropractic Clinic
- Dr. Venkatesh Mishra
- Address: C-18 Kalyanpur (West), Front of SRM (TATA) Motors Mazar waali Gali, Tedhi Pulia Ring Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226022
- Phone: +91 70079 32170
- Hours: Mon-Friday, 8 AM–2 PM, 4–7 PM
Saturdays: 08:00 – 05:00 PM