5 Tips for Exercising Safely in Cold Weather
Does the prospect of another frigid Ohio winter make you want to make like a bear and hibernate until spring? We say, don’t shun the cold! Stay active by getting outside, even when temperatures drop. Breathing in the winter air, going for a walk or a run, and building up some sweat when it’s cold, have a lot of benefits.
First of all, going outside to exercise increases your exposure to the sun’s rays and helps keep up your Vitamin D levels. Furthermore, a cold-weather workout improves your mood, helping to stave off the winter blahs. Finally, you can actually burn more calories and improve your endurance when you exercise aerobically in the icy air.
When you venture outside, be smart and follow these tips:
- Get your doctor’s okay if you’ve got a history of cardiovascular disease or other health issues.
- Don’t skip the warmup. Prime your muscles and soft tissues with ankle circles, lunges, high knees, and jogging-in-place.
- Protect your feet. When your body’s cold, blood flows to the most important parts of your body first, like your heart and brain. The feet lose out. The same goes for your hands, so wear thick, warm socks and mittens. Consider tucking some hand warmers into your mittens and shoes. Also, your shoes or boots should have soles with good traction for traversing snow and ice.
- Drink lots of water before, during, and after you work out. It may not be sweltering outside, but your body is still losing moisture that needs replenishing.
- Dress in layers. Wear warm clothes, but be prepared to shed some as you heat up. The more you exercise in the cold, the more you’ll understand how your body reacts to various temperatures and how you should dress for them.
Our experienced podiatric surgeons, Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder want to help our patients stay active and healthy during the winter. Your feet benefit from regular exercise! If foot or ankle pain prevents you from working out, call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. We offer a modern office with the latest technology for podiatric patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving our patients from Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg.
