To avoid joint pains in winter - be active

It's understandable to want to avoid winter chill, people with joint pain should still stay active The less sedentary you are, the better your physical function, says Dr Pradeep Kocheeppan, Consultant Orthopedic at Apollo Hospital Bangalore.

Dress warmly, work out inside, and get enough vitamin D. These are some of the ways you can get arthritis pain relief despite the bone-chilling cold of winter weather.

Try using mattress pad

A heated mattress pad will not only keep you warm, but it can help decrease morning stiffness in your joints. Unlike a heated blanket, a heated mattress pad is always in contact with the sleeper and gives off much less heat. Make sure u get constant heat throughout the night.

Wear warm clothes

It is important to  layer up with warm clothes. Most importantly, you’ll need to keep your toes and fingers covered since these are the extremities. Even if you’re outside for just a minute, or a short walk from your car to the door of your office, keep those gloves, socks, and boots on. If you’re used to wearing dresses, a just a coat may not be sufficient.

Exercise to keep the pain at bay

In the winter it’s easy to give into the desire to hibernate and stay inside on the couch where it’s warm. With cold, outdoor exercise might not be possible, therefore an inside gym or workout routine is best. Taking a short walk around your office or the mall can also get your blood flowing and your joints moving. Keeping up your muscle and ligament strength directly affects your joint mobility and pain levels, so exercise should continue throughout the winter.

Get enough of Vitamin D

Keeping healthy vitamin D levels can be a hard task in the winter. Vitamin D is necessary for muscle movement, communication between nerves, and fighting inflammation. It comes from a few types of food, dietary supplements, and the biggest source is from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. Lack of vitamin D can worsen your arthritis and weaken your bones. Most vitamin D levels come from the sun, which is notably sparse during the winter months.

Take a supplement

Keeping your pain levels under control, as well as reducing inflammation, and supporting joint health, can all be achieved by one simple product: a joint supplement. With a daily joint supplement you can expect decreased stiffness, an increase in lubricating fluid, aid in cartilage repair. Joint supplements can fit in nicely with your daily diet and exercise routine.

Winter can be a cold and cloudy time of the year, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer with joint pain. Your joint health should remain a priority even if motivation becomes difficult.

Viruses can be active during Winter. People with chikungunya or who had viral fever must be extremely cautions during Winter and take care of their joints.