At Natural HealthCare Services, this is something we hear quite a bit once fall weather settles into Western Pennsylvania.
Someone will mention that their knees have been a little stiffer in the morning. Their lower back has been bothering them again. Maybe an old shoulder problem they hadn’t thought about all summer suddenly starts getting their attention.
And usually the question is pretty simple: Is it the weather?
It might seem that way, especially around here. One October morning can be in the 40s, followed by a much warmer afternoon. Then a few days later, the temperature changes again.
The connection between weather and how your body feels isn’t completely clear, though. Research has looked at temperature, barometric pressure and joint discomfort with mixed results. Some people definitely say they notice a difference when the weather changes. Others don’t notice one at all.
What we find interesting at Natural HealthCare Services is everything else that tends to change at the same time.
It’s Not Just the Temperature That’s Changing
Think about what your days looked like a month or two ago.
You probably had more daylight after work. Maybe you were taking walks in the evening, working outside, gardening or just spending more time out of the house.
By October, it’s getting dark earlier and the mornings are cooler. You may be spending more time inside and sitting more than you were during the summer.
Then the weekend comes and you spend three hours raking leaves.
That’s quite a change in activity.
When someone tells us at Natural HealthCare Services that they’ve been feeling stiffer since the weather changed, that’s the kind of thing we want to know about too.
Have you been moving less during the week?
Did you spend all weekend cleaning up the yard?
Are you sitting more in the evening?
Does the stiffness seem worse first thing in the morning, but improve once you get moving?
Those details can matter.
Fall Yard Work Can Sneak Up on You
Raking leaves doesn’t necessarily feel like a workout when you start.
An hour or two later, you’ve been reaching, pulling, bending, twisting and carrying bags across the yard.
Then there are gutters to clean, outdoor furniture to put away, gardens to clean up and all the other little jobs people around Western Pennsylvania try to finish before colder weather arrives.
It’s pretty easy to overdo it, especially when you’re trying to get everything done on one nice Saturday.
If you’re doing fall cleanup, take a few breaks. Change what you’re doing instead of repeating the same movement for hours. And if something starts bothering you, don’t assume you have to finish the entire yard before stopping.
We’ve had enough unpredictable fall weather around Freeport to know there’s always another pile of leaves coming anyway.
What About Those Stiff Fall Mornings?
This is another thing people mention.
You get out of bed on a cool morning and don’t feel quite as loose as you did during the summer. After you’ve showered, walked around the house and started your day, things may begin to feel better.
If you’ve been sitting for a long period, you may notice something similar when you stand up.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature itself is causing the stiffness.
Movement or a lack of it can be part of the picture.
This is one reason Natural HealthCare Services looks at more than just the particular spot that’s bothering someone.
A person might describe a stiff back, limited movement, tight muscles or an area that has been bothering them on and off. Those aren’t necessarily the same problem, and they don’t automatically call for the same approach.
Depending on the individual, Natural HealthCare Services offers chiropractic care, Range of Motion Therapy, Myofascial Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy, Neuromuscular Therapy, Craniosacral Therapy, rehabilitation and exercise programs, along with other natural and holistic services.
You don’t have to figure out which one you need before you call us.
We’d rather hear what’s actually been going on.
Pay Attention to What Changed
If you start feeling different around the same time the seasons change, think beyond the thermometer.
Maybe you’re walking less because it’s getting dark earlier.
Maybe you’ve spent the last two weekends working in the yard.
Maybe you’re back to sitting for longer stretches during the day.
Or maybe an old problem really has started bothering you again.
It’s easy to chalk everything up to “the weather,” but that can keep you from paying attention to what’s actually happening.
If discomfort keeps coming back, gets worse, follows an injury or starts interfering with things you normally do, it’s worth discussing with an appropriate healthcare professional.
Fall in Western Pennsylvania Doesn’t Mean You Have to Stop Moving
There are still plenty of good days to get outside before colder weather arrives.
Take a walk. Keep moving throughout the workday. If you’ve been sitting for a while, get up and move around. When you’re tackling fall projects around the house, give yourself a break once in a while.
Nothing complicated.
Sometimes it’s just a matter of realizing that your routine has changed more than you thought it had.
For more than 30 years, Natural HealthCare Services has worked with individuals and families in Freeport and surrounding Western Pennsylvania communities. Gregg and Karen Brady offer a variety of chiropractic, nutritional and holistic healthcare services, with care based on the individual rather than assuming the same approach is right for everyone.
If you’ve noticed that you’re feeling stiffer, tighter or simply not moving as comfortably this fall, give Natural HealthCare Services a call and tell us what’s been going on.
Natural HealthCare Services
144 Bergad Lane
Freeport, PA 16229
724-295-5591
