Every fall for the past 21 years of practice, I have noticed a pattern. It includes patients coming in for appointments with their symptoms worse whether it be stiffness, achiness, sharpness, burning, stabbing. This recognized pattern happened to come and go until the summer arrived and then most of those patients would thrive.
You've likely heard of the term snow-birding? If you haven't, it is a term given to those who are older (65+) and usually retired, who move to warmer, dryer climates to escape the cold, snowy winters. There is a connection with how they feel in these climates and it's not just because they don't like dealing with snow and ice.
Going back to biology class, we were taught about human anatomy. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. According to Mitchell and others (1945), the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water.
Now, lets think about that for a minute. If our body has up to 60% water, what happens when things get cold or start to freeze. Of course, the water does not freeze in our bodies. But, for those with substandard circulation, poor body composition, low physical activity - they do have a physiological response to the cold and freezing climates.
Barimetric changes, cold, wet, freezing weather conditions have always brought in a population of my patients who have worsening signs and symptoms.
Lower barometric pressure also brings weather that tends to be cooler — and that's not ideal for your joints. Cold can make muscles, ligaments and joints stiffer and more painful. “There's an oily fluid between your joints, and when it's cold or the pressure changes, it can get sludgy,” explains Dr. Bang from the Cleveland Clinic (Jan 16, 2023).
How can Chiropractic help? Well, that oily fluid between your joints is called Synovium. It circulates and moves around in our joints to ensure effortless movement and increase the uptake of nutrition into the cartilage surfaces to continue to nurish them. That synovium is a liquid under pressure and is directly affected by outside pressures (barimetric, physcial activity, injury) and temperatures. Licensensed Chiropractors, through adjusting, can help optimize joint pressure and mechanics. As a result, relief in stiffness, achiness, sharpness, burning, stabbing pains.
With a proper diagnosis, a treatment plan including Chiropractic adjusting, relief is possible.
To schedule an appointment and get help with the "Ice Cube Effect", call Integrated Chiropractic or send us a message from the contact us page.
Yours in health - Dr. SJ
