October 21st, 2021

Stay Healthy During Wintertime

One thing the pandemic has taught us, is that we have to be more proactive when it comes to our health. Wait-times in hospitals are longer and doctors might only be available online. Not ideal when you are dealing with an injury or illness. Our best bet may be to try and prevent common ailments like back- and shoulder pain, arthritis, strains and sprains. 
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Here are 5 recommendations to prevent injury during winter season:

1) Rest 
Days are getting shorter and colder which signals our bodies to rest. Don’t feel bad if you’re not in the mood for a high-intensity training every single day. Have you tried a short walk for lunch or after work instead? It works wonders for your mood and provides movement with minimal risk for injuries.

2) Work smarter not harder
Increase your warm-up time as the joints and ligaments take longer to warm up in the winter time. Adjust your workout intensity according to your day/week. If you had a stressful week or just beat a nasty cold, maybe a gentle yoga practice is what your body is craving. 

3) Establish a routine
Make sure movement is part of your daily life. It can be in form of strength-, endurance- or mobility training. Find out whether you have more motivation in the morning, afternoon or evening and schedule it accordingly. The saying ‘use it or lose it’ rings true when it comes to your fitness level since the body will only maintain what you consistently use. 

4) Work with a professional
Whether it’s a physio, chiro or personal trainer, you can pick. Working one-on-one with a professional can speed up recovery time and prevent injury in the first place. Having an assessment and finding out what your body needs can save a lot of time in the long run.

5) Establish a goal
Having a goal will help design a plan that allows for progression. Arbitrary workouts are better than no movement but hold a higher risk for injuries. You may overload and stress your body by increasing weights too fast or running too long. Keep in mind that you can never start too early. Now is a great time to prepare for all those summer hikes you didn’t finish this year.