Why Does Back Pain Get Worse in Fall (and Winter)?

With Fall officially here and Winter just around the corner, I’m already starting to hear more complaints of new or worsening Back Pain.
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In fact, this happens almost every Fall and Winter.  As the days get shorter and colder lower backs seem to “unexpectedly” get stiff and achy.   

​What was once just an occasional dull ache that was easily ignored suddenly gets more annoying, more painful and more limiting every day. 

Many of my patients have suffered with aches in their lower back for months now and some report they barely made it through last winter.  But once Spring arrived the annoying and sometimes debilitating pain improved, and they thought their back problems were over.  

At least until the cold weather returned and along with it came that same Back Pain.  Sadly, this same cycle often repeats itself year after year and for many the Back Pain gets worse each year, not better.
    
So, is the colder weather really to blame? 

The short answer is NO!

Obviously, we can’t control the weather, especially in Oregon, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer all winter.  It also doesn’t mean you have to move to Arizona or Florida for the winter.

So, why does Back Pain get worse this time of year?
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REASON #1
As the days get shorter and colder, we are simply less active.  Sustained periods of inactivity, no matter the season or reason, will cause muscles and joints to become weak and stiff, which is the most common cause of Back Pain in the Fall and Winter. 

The good news is, unlike the weather, we can control how active we choose to be throughout the Fall and Winter.  Yes, it can really be that simple!  Put on a coat and go for walk, join a gym for the Winter or find other ways to stay active, to keep your body moving and stay strong. 
 
REASON #2
Nothing was done to address the back PROBLEM in the first place.  Notice I didn’t say “address the PAIN”.  Taking pain medications or trying a few random exercises found on the internet may help ease pain (temporarily), but it won’t correct the underlying cause of the pain.  And if you’ve had Back Pain for more than a few weeks or if you have recurrent episodes of Back Pain every year, it’s unlikely your pain just will go away on its own at this point. 

The fastest way to address the underlying cause of the issue is to get proper treatment.  A Physical Therapist can help you identify the cause of your pain and create a treatment plan to correct the PROBLEM.  They can also teach you how you can prevent it from coming back, so you DON’T have to suffer needlessly year after year.  

No more blaming the cold weather.  Don’t let Back Pain creep up on you this Fall or Winter!

GET ACTIVE OR GET HELP!

And, if Back Pain is troubling you right now…
Don’t worry I have your back (pun intended)!
Click here to download our FREE Back Pain Report full of more great tips and strategies to help ease your Back Pain.

If you know you need help and are ready to get proper treatment…
Give us a call at 503-744-0046 and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have.
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