With colder weather here in the winter months, this can impact our bodies in several ways and sometimes we need some extra care and attention as opposed to summer months.

Joint discomfort in particular can be more prevalent in the winter due to a few factors like reduced blood flow, thickening of joint fluids, atmospheric pressure changes, potential lower vitamin D levels, and inflammation.

Incorporating low-impact aerobic activities into your routine this winter can help you foster better health and mobility and protect your joints!

Key Takeaways:

• Learn the best low-impact aerobic activities for joint health during the winter months.
• Discover the science behind joint discomfort and mobility issues in the winter.
• Find out how Quality of Life premium joint health supplements can help you get back on your feet and fight joint pain in the cold.* 

Choose Quality of Life joint health supplement Curcumin-SR™ today to relieve joint discomfort and enjoy movement again!*

Table of Contents:

1. Why Your Joints Become Stiff, Painful, and Uncomfortable in the Winter
2. The Best Low-Impact Movements for Joint Pain
3. Using Quality of Life’s Joint Health Supplement Curcumin-SR™ for Relief*
4. Take Care of Your Joints this Winter with the Help of Quality of Life*

Why Your Joints Become Stiff, Painful, and Uncomfortable in the Winter

As you age, your joint health can take a turn for the worse. In some cases, you may experience joint pain and discomfort in your younger years, too. This is especially prevalent in the winter months.

Your joints are surrounded by softer tissue called cartilage. Cartilage helps your joints move and promotes better mobility and flexibility.

When your cartilage starts to wear away or is not properly lubricated, you experience joint pain and stiffness.

During the winter, colder temperatures can thicken joint fluids, making them less effective at lubricating joints.* The barometric pressure changes can also impact those who have certain conditions and are sensitive to atmospheric changes.* The cold also can cause more inflammation, especially for those who may already experience it.*

Nerves and blood vessels constrict in the cold, which decreases blood flow and circulation, which can in turn make joints stiffer or more painful.*

This might all make it feel harder to move, twist, stretch, bend, or perform normal daily activities. And in the cold especially, the urge to stay snuggled up indoors is strong, but that may make joint discomfort worse.*

It’s tempting to avoid all movement when your joints hurt. However, it’s widely accepted that gentle movements and low-impact aerobic exercises can boost your joint health and help relieve pain.

The Best Low-Impact Movements for Joint Pain

When you suffer from joint pain and stiffness, you should keep your movements gentle and low-impact.

This means avoiding any activities that are hard on your bones and cartilage, like running, HIIT exercises, and physical contact sports.

Try these low-impact aerobic activities to get inspired during the winter months and keep yourself healthy, moving, and alleviate joint pain.

Cycling and Biking

Whether you prefer a stationary cycling machine (which might be most suitable in winter) or you want to bundle up and hit the road on your bicycle to take in all the beauty of winter, both are valid options for low-impact aerobic activities.

Cycling is easy on your joints and cartilage while still raising your heart rate and keeping your body moving.

Since you use the pedals to move the bicycle forward, your knees don’t receive the same impact as they would while running or walking.

This makes cycling a good alternative to higher-impact outdoor exercises, and even though it can be tough to get outside in winter, it’s great for the body and mind to get some outdoor activity in!

Swimming

When you’re in the water, you feel weightless. This happens for a reason: swimming has an extremely low impact on your joints and cartilage.

While swimming doesn’t put strain and pressure on your joints, it does raise your heart rate and keep your blood pumping.

Swimming helps build muscle strength, cardio endurance, and mobility.

While swimming might be easier to come by and feel more comfortable in the summer, if you enjoy water activities, you shouldn’t forget swimming altogether in winter. Consider joining your local indoor pool so you can still enjoy the feel of the water and all the benefits of swimming during the colder months!

Yoga and Stretching 

You may not think of stretching as exercise, but yoga is a gentle form of exercise that stretches your muscles and ligaments to promote better mobility.

The biggest advantage of yoga is that you can take it at your own pace.

If you struggle with joint soreness and stiffness, you can modify almost any yoga pose to suit your needs.

The more you stretch and practice yoga, the more mobile and flexible your body will become. This benefits your joint health — and mental health — over time.

You can even try doing yoga and stretching in a heated room this winter so that you still get a sweat in and are able to get all your muscles loose and mobile despite the colder weather.

Core Exercises

Core exercises build up muscle mass throughout your abdomen and chest to give your body a stable foundation.

There is a wealth of benefits to doing regular core exercises.

Most of these exercises don’t pack a heavy punch to your joints and cartilage. In fact, core exercises may help boost your mobility and reduce joint pain over time. You can do Pilates exercises at home or in a class or find a simple ab or glute routine to follow. Most core exercises can be done right from a mat using just your own bodyweight.

The stronger your core is, the more stable and aligned the rest of your body will be.

When it comes to combating joint pain and stiffness, core exercises are the way to go.

Using Quality of Life’s Joint Health Supplement Curcumin-SR™ for Relief*

One of the most popular natural ingredients that can promote a healthy inflammatory response is curcumin, the active compound in turmeric. Curcumin is beneficial to many areas of health, but it is particularly prized for its beneficial inflammatory properties, which is a big contributor when it comes to joint health.*

Curcumin-SR™ is a product designed to help the body promote a healthy inflammatory response. Unlike most curcumin supplements, Curcumin-SR™'s secret lies in a proprietary blend called MicroCurcumin™.*

The MicroCurcumin™ blend contains a combination of 25% curcuminoids and medium-chain triglycerides that allows curcumin to have a sustained release that can last up to 12 hours. The sustained release effect is critical since curcumin on its own can let our stomach acids break it apart without being metabolized. Also, a sustained release guarantees sustained levels of curcumin in the blood for long periods.*

Curcumin-SR™'s MicroCurcumin™ blend also has 10x better bioavailability than regular curcumin, which means every serving gives the body a healthy inflammatory boost.*

Science says a consistent healthy inflammatory response is key to a healthy life, and curcumin is perhaps the best natural ingredient that can help us do just that.* Curcumin is widely used for its joint supporting benefits, which is especially helpful in winter, but it also promotes benefits like heart function, sleep support, and even stress support!

Take Care of Your Joints this Winter with the Help of Quality of Life*

Take on the winter with confidence when you incorporate low-impact aerobic exercises and take Curcumin-SR™ daily. With this helpful combination of joint support and inflammation modulation, you’ll be feeling much better despite the cold!*

Quality of Life is here to support you on every step of your wellness journey. Let’s make this winter a happy and healthy one!