.jpg)
If your lower back feels tighter and stiffer during the winter months, you’re not imagining it. Cold weather, reduced movement, and muscle tension all combine to make back stiffness more common this time of year. The good news is that there are simple ways to prevent and relieve winter back tightness.
Cold temperatures affect your body in several ways that increase stiffness.
When it gets cold:
This leads to reduced mobility and increased protective muscle tension, especially in the low back and hips.
Winter often brings more sitting and less activity. Shorter days, colder mornings, and busy schedules make it easier to stay sedentary.
When you move less:
Your spine starts working harder than it should, creating stiffness and discomfort.
You don’t need long workouts to keep your back healthy. Small, consistent habits make the biggest difference.
Start with:
These keep the joints moving and reduce muscle guarding.
Snow shoveling, lifting firewood, carrying groceries, and slipping on ice all stress your spine. A weak or poorly timed core can make these movements dangerous.
Learning to properly brace your core:
This is a common focus in chiropractic-led rehab plans during the winter.
Chiropractic care restores mobility to stiff joints and reduces muscle tension that builds up from cold weather and inactivity.
Benefits include:
At Highland Spine and Sport, care focuses not only on relieving pain but helping you move better through hands-on treatment and targeted movement work.
You should consider professional care if you notice:
Addressing these issues early helps prevent bigger setbacks.
Winter doesn’t have to mean constant back stiffness. With smart movement, proper warmups, and consistent care, your back can stay strong and mobile all season long.
Highland Spine and Sport helps active adults stay pain-free and moving their best year-round.