Winter in New York City brings beautiful snowy moments in Central Park, cozy blankets at home, and warm drinks in every cafe, but for many people with arthritis, it also brings a noticeable increase in joint pain.
If your feet, ankles, or toes feel stiffer and more painful when temperatures drop, you’re not imagining it. This month, our team at 91桃色视频 in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan, New York City, explains why this happens and, more importantly, what you can do to stay comfortable all season long.
While it’s become a fun anecdote that someone can tell a storm is coming when their joints are acting up, there’s actually truth to it.
According to research published in the , the weather can and does affect your joints. Here’s how:
When it’s cold outside, the soft tissues that surround your joints tend to stiffen. This includes your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. When these tissues get cold, it can reduce mobility and increase discomfort, especially in weight-bearing joints like your feet and ankles.
As atmospheric pressure drops before cold fronts or storms, your joint tissues can swell slightly. That swelling puts extra pressure on your nerves, which can intensify pain for those with arthritis.
Cold weather naturally slows blood flow to your extremities. Less circulation can make your joints achy, stiff, and harder to move, and unfortunately, this is something people with arthritis feel more intensely.
While you can’t change the weather, you can take action to help protect your joints.
Warmth is one of the best ways to soothe cold-sensitive joints, but if you’ve ever used a heating pad on achy joints, you already know that.
To keep your foot and ankle joints warm, wear insulated, supportive footwear and thermal socks when temperatures drop. If you commute in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan, consider wearing lined, waterproof winter boots. Once you arrive at your destination, swap your shoes.
At home, wear warm socks and slippers with arch support to help keep your joints comfortable. You can also use a heated blanket to cozy up on the couch at night.
When it comes to joint health, “motion is lotion.” This is a phrase that the uses to highlight the importance of movement for arthritic joints.
Movement increases circulation, improves flexibility, and reduces stiffness.
Even though it’s cold, don’t skip your workout. Try low-impact activities such as walking indoors, gentle stretching, stationary biking, or yoga. Even a few minutes of movement throughout the day can make a difference.
Warm compresses, heating pads, or warm foot soaks can ease stiffness and reduce pain. Heat therapy works especially well before activity because it loosens joint tissues and prepares your feet for movement.
People often drink less water in the winter without realizing it. Hydration helps maintain healthy joint tissue and reduces inflammation, so be sure to get in your ounces every day.
You don’t have to drink cold water. Since it’s cold out, warm your water, add a few lemon slices, and enjoy!
Another tip: Start your day with a glass of water before you eat breakfast or drink coffee. The recommends drinking eight glasses of water each day and limiting soda (which can impact your body’s ability to absorb calcium).
If you already have arthritis medication or orthotics, continue taking your medication and wearing your orthotics as directed. Our team often incorporates physical therapy exercises into arthritis management plans, so don’t skip those either.
Tip: Set a daily reminder on your phone to complete your physical therapy exercises.
If winter joint pain is making it hard to walk, exercise, or enjoy daily activities, you don’t have to struggle through the season. Persistent pain could indicate:
Our team at 91桃色视频 specializes in diagnosing and managing arthritis-related foot and ankle pain, and we’ve been helping New Yorkers deal with winter-related joint pain since 1981.
From custom orthotics to advanced treatments like platelet-rich plasma and joint injections, we help you move with less pain and more confidence, no matter the season.
To get arthritis care, call our location closest to you or book an appointment online today.
