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Tips to Keep Your Back Pain-Free and Safe This Winter
id you know that 8 out of 10 adults will and legs instead of your back. Shovel small amounts of snow experience back pain in their lifetime? at a time and keep snow loads lighter. Finally, take frequent Spine wellness is important year-round, breaks and consider pushing the snow instead of throwing it. but winter poses increased risk for back 5. Stay Active. Cold weather pushes people into a sedentary injuries. In Colorado, we get our fair share of lifestyle. Staying active is an important part of protecting the snow and ice. As beautiful as they are, these spine. Even simple goals to walk indoors and stretch on a elements can be a recipe for spine injuries. regular basis is helpful. Doing a little warm-up any time you However, there are things you can do are heading out in the winter cold is beneficial because it gets Dr. Sharad Rajpal to help protect your spine during the your blood flowing and loosens your muscles, and better wintertime. Neurological and Spine Surgeon, prepares you for snow shoveling or any cold weather outing. Dr. Sharad Rajpal with AdventHealth 6. Be Cautious When Trying The luncheon will be held Avista shares some ways you can help New Activities. Winter is a time for at the Omni Interlocken keep your back in tip-top shape. skiing, snowboarding, and much more. Hotel in Broomfield and will Because we don’t tend to do most of 1. Wear Proper Attire for Cold Weather. Colder temperatures can feature six-time Olympic gold those activities in warmer months, our cause stiffer joints and muscles and bodies are more prone to injury. Be sure medalist Amy Van Dyken. can restrict circulation, resulting in to take on new activities at the right level tightness and strain to the back muscles. Wear removable and speed to avoid putting your body in danger of harm. layers to keep your body at the right temperature and to If you or a loved one is experiencing persistent back pain, adjust for shifts in indoor and outdoor temperatures. This Dr. Rajpal encourages you to speak with your doctor about includes accessories like scarves, hats, gloves, and socks. how you can get rid of your back pain for good. Dr. Rajpal 2. Wear Weather-Appropriate Shoes to Avoid Falls. with AdventHealth Medical Group Spine and Neurosurgery Wearing proper shoes with rubber soles or deep treads for in Louisville is proud to provide incredible spine care to the better traction on ice and snow can help limit your risk for falls. Louisville, Boulder, Broomfield, and surrounding communities. Make sure your shoes are secured tight and fit correctly. A fall Through generous donations to the AdventHealth Avista on the ice is one of the most common causes of back pain and Foundation, our spine surgeons are equipped with state-ofinjuries, so wearing the right shoes can help avoid a lot of pain. the-art technology to provide our patients with the best care 3. Scan Thoroughly and Slow Down. Take a moment possible. On Friday, April 12, you are invited to a Wellness to scan sidewalks or driveways before walking. Even if Luncheon, hosted by the AdventHealth Avista Foundation. something doesn’t look slippery, walk slowly, hold onto Event proceeds will support a new microscope for our spine something nearby if possible, and keep your hands out of surgeons to use in our newest operating suite. This new your pockets so that you can brace yourself if you do fall. microscope is a powerful tool that allows for more flexibility 4. Proper Lifting Technique for Shoveling Snow. and precision in the hands of our expert physicians. Shoveling snow involves bending, lifting, and twisting, three The luncheon will be held at the Omni Interlocken Hotel simultaneous actions that can easily result in a back injury. in Broomfield and will feature six-time Olympic gold medalist Protect your spine by using a lightweight shovel, preferably Amy Van Dyken. Single event tickets are $115 or $1200 for with a curved handle to avoid having to bend over too much. a table of ten. If you’re interested in this incredible event, Bend at the hips, not the low back, and lift with your arms call 303-673-1011 or go to rmahf.org/avistawellnesslunch.
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Our Broomfield™ Magazine | April 2023
