Imagine a chilly winter morning.
You’re excited to clear the freshly fallen snow from your driveway, but as you lift the shovel, a sharp pain shoots through your back. This scenario is all too common during winter, a season that brings not just joy and festivities but also a heightened risk of back pain and injuries. The combination of cold weather, slippery surfaces, and strenuous activities like shoveling snow or winter sports can be particularly challenging for those prone to back issues.
The Perils of Winter for Your Back
Winter is notorious for creating hazardous conditions that can aggravate existing back pain or lead to new injuries. Unintended falls, a leading cause of injury across nearly all age groups, become more prevalent due to slick surfaces caused by snow, ice, and rain. These falls can lead to a range of injuries, from muscle sprains to more severe spinal conditions like compression fractures or herniated discs.
Moreover, winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, and even routine chores like snow shoveling and wood chopping involve repetitive bending, twisting, and lifting, exacerbating the risk of back pain.
Tips to Protect Your Back
To combat these risks, it’s crucial to adopt preventive measures that protect your spine. Take a look at our top 5 tips to protect your back this winter:
Have Questions About Back Pain?
Ask Rafael Rodriguez, a Spinal Champion Advocate.
Our Spinal Champion Advocates are available to personally answer questions for other patients who are on their spine health journey; free of charge.
