There is no better place to get in good exercise than outdoors in the fresh air — even in the winter! Before lacing up your shoes and throwing on your coat to head outside, here is some advice from your favorite family chiropractors in Plantation, at Dr. Gena Chiropractic.

First and foremost, we are all in favor of anything that gets your body moving. Movement is key to good blood flow and circulation, which helps your joints function at their best. So, even though you may live somewhere with a colder climate and all you want to do is relax inside by a fire, this is not ideal to do all the time. Sure, it’s fine to do this for a little while, but the ultimate goal should be to get up and go, go, go! Movement keeps the body warm, after all. 

In colder areas, there are lots of things to do outdoors during the winter months that are fun, fitness-focused and allow you to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and snowshoeing are some of our favorite snow-filled activities. Hiking and biking in colder climates gives us a good wintertime adrenaline rush too! 

The  most important thing to remember before going out in these colder temperatures is to warm up your body. Have you ever noticed how your body might tense up when you walk outside in the winter? Without the proper stretching to warm up the body, that hit of instant cold can cause joints and muscles to tighten up as a way to contract heat in the body when it has been lost. As a result, muscles might feel sore and range of motion could decrease. 

Developing a routine that helps to loosen up the muscles and joints before going outside can help decrease the risk for muscle tension while you are engaging in winter activities. 

But that’s not all — it’s important to stay loose while you are outside in the cold too. Jumping up and down, performing active stretches, walking or going for a brisk jog… All of these things help to stimulate blood flow and keep the body warm. Hydration is key too. Make sure you are drinking the recommended amount of water for your body weight. Even if you don’t necessarily feel thirsty, drink! Cold air is dry, and therefore can dehydrate you much quicker than if you were in a warmer, more humid climate.

Ok, so what if you are somewhere that is too cold for outdoor adventures? No worries! If you are stuck indoors, there are still plenty of body-warming activities to keep blood flowing. One of our favorite things to do is crank up our favorite tunes, invite over a few friends and have a dance party! Bonus points if you own a karaoke machine and can start a sing-along too! The more the merrier! That’ll really keep you warm. A yummy hot yoga class is another great way to warm up and keep active.

If you are like us and live in warm and sunny South Florida, you don’t have to worry too much about cold weather. The seasons in South Florida are a bit different. Summertime is incredibly hot, and not the best time of year for outdoor activities because of how humid it can get, but winter? Winter is the best time of the year to get outside! Although it’s not actually cold out, the weather has cooled down and humidity is not nearly as strong. Going for long walks, running on the beach and rowing in local lakes are a few of our favorite “South Florida winter” activities.

But even if the weather is not as chilly as other parts of the country during the winter, warming up and staying hydrated are still critical to fully functioning joints and muscles and overall body performance level. And it can’t hurt to get a couple chiropractic adjustments in before and after your wintertime fun too!

For more wellness tips, the team at Dr. Gena Chiropractic is always here to answer your questions. Remember, your health is in your hands; our hands are here to help.