A Chiropractic Blog from an elected British Chiropratic Council Member

Woops! - watch your step in this icy weather

17/1/2013

As so perfectly demonstrated by this poor little penguin and his unhelpful, mocking friends, venturing out in this cold, icy weather can be treacherous! Even a simple slip on an icy pavement can result in at least a jarred back, grazed knees or a banged bottom (not to mention a dented ego!) - or worse still a fractured wrist or even hip which may take months to heal (my husband is looking at 3 months in a cast after fracturing his scaphoid - a very small bone in the wrist! OK, we were snowboarding!!!). However, whilst it is tempting to stay snuggled up indoors, this is not always possible and even in the cold weather our bodies benefit from a little bit of fresh air and exercise.

With a few simple, sensible precautions you can avoid the fate of the penguin...

Wear sensible, grippy shoes or boots.
Keep your feet warm with thermal (or extra) socks - cold, numb feet are less able to sense the surface.
Wrap up, but make sure you can still move freely!
Wear gloves and keep your hands out of your pockets - you need them to balance.
Stick to gritted paths - but remember that there might still be slippery bits and watch out for shady areas that may still be icy. Fluffy, powdery snow is generally less slippery than the compacted stuff.
If you do take a tumble, try to relax and roll - keep your hands and arms tucked in as a FOOSH ('fall on outstretched hand') is the easiest way to injure your hands, wrists and arms.
Too cold to venture out? - wrap up warm, and march on the spot for a minute or so before heading out - that way you'll warm your body up before you face the elements.
Fed up with the cold? Find some snow and lob a few snowballs - it'll make you smile. Also, think of all the bugs and germs that are being killed off by the cold snap...

Now, how about another look at that penguin...

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Winter Running

9/11/2010

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I find it much harder to motivate myself to go out for a run on these cold, dark windy evenings, but I know that I always feel better for it once I have dragged myself off the sofa! I find that the worst bit is getting out of the front door, but I tell myself that I'll only go out for five minutes and invariably stay out longer.

I did just that this evening having slobbed out for too long and eaten too many crumpets. It was really chilly out, but I wrapped up warm, donned my highly attractive, but highly visible reflective jacket and head-torch, and headed off around the village. I felt a bit like an oversized glow-worm as I was trying out my new flashing 'tail' light (if only it was green...!) – but at least it made me a bit more noticeable.

Heading out in the evenings is great; with less to see you really focus on your other senses – the bark of a fox in the distance, or a robin chirruping in the trees, confused by the artificial light of the streetlamps. I love catching a glimpse into other people's lives through their un-drawn curtains and really notice the smell of the autumn leaves mingled with the acrid scent of a coal fire that hangs in the damp, cold air.

As always, it was definitely worth heading out into the cold. My cheeks were pink and glowy and I felt refreshed and invigorated - and more worthy of a lazy, relaxing evening. After all, I'd earned it!

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Woops! - watch your step in this icy weather

Winter Running

Ceri Ann

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