Joint Support for Seniors During Cold Winter Months

Arthritis can be a debilitating condition that causes much pain, especially during the cold winter months. When temperatures drop, arthritis and joint pain symptoms often worsen, making it difficult for seniors to complete daily tasks and activities.

However, you can help manage painful symptoms with specific joint support. This guide shares our best tips on supporting your joint health during the cold winter months.

Why Joint Support Is Important During the Cold Winter Months

When the barometric pressure in winter drops, then this can cause our joints to expand. This can lead to inflammation in people who suffer from specific joint conditions, such as arthritis.

Joints Are More Painful in Winter

One of the most common reasons joint support is essential during the colder months is that joints can be more painful.

In addition, the low temperature in winter also makes joints stiff, making it more difficult to move and stay active. However, it’s important to stay active to ensure your joints work as well as possible.

Seniors With Joint Conditions Are More Vulnerable

Low temperatures increase inflammation and make you more vulnerable to other health problems, such as colds and the flu.

Our immune system is more susceptible to other health conditions in the winter months, so joint support and a healthy lifestyle are more important than any other time of the year.

The Best Ways to Support Your Joints in Winter

You can do a few simple things to keep your joints healthy throughout the winter.

Keep Your Joints Warm

One of the best ways to soothe joint pain is to keep your joints warm. You don’t have to constantly keep your heating pad on; instead, choose heating options for specific joints.

For example, you can have a warm shower or bath that helps you loosen the stiffness around your joints. You can also use thick throws or electric blankets to warm your joints for some time.

Hot drinks and food can help keep your hands warm. They also raise your body temperature, making you feel warmer for longer. In addition, older people can also wear several layers of clothing over affected arthritis areas.

Stay Active

Keeping your joints moving helps you stay warm. While being active as we age isn’t easy, it can help keep stiffness and pain at bay.

Walking, swimming, and light daily exercises can help build muscles and increase stamina. Swimming is perfect for joints as there is no pressure on the affected arthritis areas. This makes it easier to stay fit and healthy.

A daily exercise routine is a good idea to maintain mobility and minimize arthritis symptoms.

Eat Joint-Friendly Foods

The food we eat can significantly impact our overall health and individual health conditions, such as osteoarthritis.

Eat a balanced diet with many vegetables and fruits to decrease inflammation. You can find more foods that help improve joint health in the next section of this blog post.

Discuss Pain Relief Medications with Your Doctor

If your arthritis pain is debilitating during the winter months, then make sure to speak to your healthcare practitioner about pain relief options. Your doctor can prescribe creams or other pain-relieving medications, depending on your health conditions and any other medicines you are taking.

Foods That Help Improve Joint Health

Some foods can increase inflammation in our body, making inflammation-related conditions like arthritis worse. Eating foods that assist joint health and keep inflammation low is essential.

Foods That Support Your Joints

Eating oily foods regularly, such as olive oil or oily fish, can help maintain low inflammation levels. Whole grains and nuts are also considered healthy foods for seniors with arthritis.

Fruits and vegetables that contain a large amount of vitamin D are essential in winter. Our body can only absorb vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. As there is little light in the cold, dark months, you may need to take a vitamin D supplement.

Certain herbs and spices, such as turmeric, are well-known to reduce inflammation. In addition, they can be a gentle, natural way to keep your joints healthy.

Foods To Avoid

Avoid polyunsaturated fats, such as sunflower oil, and saturated fats, such as animal products.

Cutting down on cooking with fat in your diet can make a big difference overall, including with any symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Home Exercises to Improve Joint Mobility

The best way to improve your joint mobility is by keeping active. This also includes some daily exercises at home.

Try to do light stretches, back bends, side bends, and neck and shoulder rotations. You can also do balance exercises, such as standing on one leg.

Pilates and yoga are also great for keeping fit, depending on your current fitness levels. Plus, you can vary the exercises according to your health condition. When exercising, make sure to listen to your body and do only as much as you feel comfortable.

How To Stay Warm and Comfortable During the Winter Months

The best way to stay comfortable in winter is to layer up with several pieces of clothing. This keeps your joints and muscles warm.

You can also use electric blankets and heat pads to maintain your body temperature. Heating up drinks and food can also help keep you warmer for longer periods of time.

Even if it can be challenging to get outside in the cold and dark, keeping your joints moving is essential so that they don’t get too stiff. Try following a regular exercise routine at home, or walking or swimming.

Final Thoughts

Joint pain in cold weather is a common phenomenon, and there are many ways to support your joints during this time, including staying warm and active. Make sure to eat a healthy diet, exercise, and bundle up when the weather gets chilly!

At Crestwood Manor’s senior living community in Whiting, NJ, you’ll find so many ways to live well, engage with others, and most importantly, have fun! Contact us to schedule a visit today.