You’ve probably heard stories about how the cold weather can affect your joints, but the warm summer weather also leads to changes inside our bodies. One such area of your body that can be affected by hot weather is your spine. Today, we take a closer look at how the summer heat affects your spine, and what you can do to prevent pain.
Summer Spine Pain
Here are a couple of summer weather factors that may impact your spine.
Barometric Pressure – Changes in pressure are commonly linked to spine pain. If the barometric pressure is high, it can push on your skin and the liquids in your body tend to be slightly smaller. On the flip side, low pressure causes a slight increase in liquid volume. When low pressure systems hit, that slight increase in volume can put pressure on certain spinal structures or nerves.
Humidity – Fluctuations in humidly have also been linked to spine pain. Although research is slim, some studies have shown that changes in humidity have been linked to increased spine pain. Times of high humidity and low humidity haven’t shown a correlation to spine pain, but when the humidity shifts from one to the other in a short period of time, spine pain has worsened in some individuals.
Staying Active And Avoiding Spine Pain
So while the summer weather may lead to mild increases in spine pain, the season also offers some opportunities to exercise without over-stressing your spine. Here are a couple of ideas.
Swimming – Swimming is a great summertime activity that can keep you cool and strengthen your spine. Because your spine does not need to bear as much weight in water as it does on land, aqua therapy is a great option for people whose spine pain prevents them from taking part in high-impact activities. And if you’re going to be out in the sun for a long time, be sure to have someone apply sunscreen to your back, as it can be hard to reach!
Cycling – Similar to swimming, cycling is another summer activity that allows you to stay in shape without putting too much pressure on your spine. An activity like running stresses your spine with every step, but cycling doesn’t send that shockwave as you pedal. The summer weather provides the perfect opportunity to get out on the trails, so take advantage of it. Just be sure to wear a helmet, as it can protect your head, neck and spine in the event of a crash!