Chill Out Lower Back And Neck Pain — 7 Ways Cold Weather Affects Spinal Health

From childhood lessons to timeless wisdom, our mothers seem to have an uncanny knack for knowing what's best for us. Take the classic 'always bring a jacket' advice—a nugget of maternal wisdom that extends far beyond avoiding a sudden chill. Little do we realize, our moms might be unintentionally paving the way for a lifelong habit that holds the key to maintaining agility and warding off the discomfort of stiffness, as well as potential neck and back pain in our later years.

Of course, there’s more to overall neck and back health than just investing in a warm jacket. Let's delve into the fascinating physiology that reveals the direct impact of cold weather on spinal health. As we unravel these insights, we'll also explore a range of cost-effective solutions aimed at enhancing mobility during chilly times.

Cold Weather’s Impact on Muscle Constriction and Stiffness

Do your muscles feel tight in the winter like a rubber band left overnight in the freezer? It’s not you; it’s the cold. Like a frozen rubber band, muscle fibers become stiff and less flexible. This tightness affects not only the back of the thighs (hamstrings) but also the muscles that attach to the spine, from the lower back to the occiput at the base of the neck. Cold weather can affect all muscles between the lumbar and occipital spine. 

Chilly Weather Leads to Poor Circulation

As winter settles in, the temptation to hibernate is only natural. While bears may thrive in extended periods of rest, the same doesn't hold true for humans. The combination of inactivity, the tendency to overeat, and the colder weather collectively take a toll on core muscles, constricts blood vessels, and diminishes blood flow. With decreased blood flow comes a reduction in oxygen and nutrient supply to the muscles and tissues surrounding the spine. This deprivation of nourishment can play a role in the development of stiffness and discomfort in the spinal region.

Joint Pain and Arthritis Worsens During Winter

Like a rusty, creaky old door hinge in winter, cold weather stiffens joints, causing discomfort and resistance to movement. One reason is that the drop in temperature can affect the lubricating (synovial) fluid within joints, making them stiffer and more prone to discomfort. 

What better place to study the effects of cold weather on musculoskeletal health than northern Sweden? In 2022, a study published in the journal Ergonomics documented over 12,000 participants’ experiences with cold at work in the frigid region. The results showed that those who reported being frequently exposed to cold at work were more likely to have problems like neck pain, lower back pain, and a condition called lumbar radiculopathy, which involves pain that radiates from the lower spine. 

Low Pressure Is High Pressure On The Spine (Barometric Pressure Changes)

Imagine that each of the 21 independent (non-fused) discs between each vertebra of the spine is like a balloon. Balloons expand and contract with changes in atmospheric pressure. The same goes for intervertebral discs. As warm, sunny, high-pressure conditions give way to strong low-pressure cold fronts, the discs between the vertebrae slightly expand, potentially pinching on nerves and causing pain.

Cold Weather Dehydrates Discs

Even if you can resist the urge to hibernate and stay active throughout the colder months, you may be prone to dehydration. When you’re not breaking a sweat exercising, you’re not thirsty. And when you don’t sufficiently hydrate, this can affect the moisture level in your discs. Poorly hydrated discs are like sponges left in the sun. Without enough moisture, the sponge (disc) becomes dry, loses its elasticity, and is more prone to wear and tear, i.e. herniated discs. 

Cold Weather & Posture 

Of course, poor posture can happen regardless of climate extremities. It doesn’t have to be cold for someone to experience back and neck pain that’s caused at least in part by poor posture. But cold weather makes poor posture worse. Like a wilting flower, the human body tends to slump or hunch in response to the cold. Combine poor posture with inactivity, and you get a recipe for chronic back and neck pain. 

Wintertime Psychological Stress’s Impact On Pain

Finally, the wintertime blues can negatively affect your mental well-being, which may directly impact your physiological well-being. For instance, psychological stress can cause muscle tension and lower the pain threshold. 

Solutions For Overcoming Cold Weather Back and Neck Pain 

Besides being told yet again that you need to bundle up, what are some affordable, highly efficacious, and easy ways to mitigate back and neck pain, especially during the cold season? 

Except for dressing in layers and using heat therapies such as a sauna, most tips are valid year-round. Think: being conscious of maintaining good posture as often as possible, staying active, managing stress, and getting enough sleep. 

Posture Pump®: Effective Back And Neck Pain Therapy You Can Do At Home In Just Minutes

If you're dealing with back or neck pain, especially during winter, explore the benefits of Posture Pump®'s research-backed home pain-management device. Priced more affordably than a name-brand coat and with a track record of over 3 million units sold and thousands of success stories, integrating this solution into your routine could bring about positive changes in how your body feels, offering relief not just in winter but throughout the entire year.

Posture Pump® devices have been shown to achieve high-level joint separation in MRI studies conducted by the world-renowned neurosurgeon and researcher Dr. C. Norman Shealy. In just one 5-15 minute session performed lying down on the ground in the comfort of your home, Posture Pump® nourishes and hydrates discs, resulting in less disc compression and pain, numbness, and tingling. 

Posture Pump®’s patented Expanding Ellipsoidal Decompression (EED®) technology improves the lordotic curves of the neck and back in such a short amount of time, and with daily use, pain may be significantly mitigated. 

Take the first step towards back and neck pain and order a Posture Pump® today.