Why You Feel Stiffer When It’s Cold

Why You Feel Stiffer When It’s Cold (and What to Do About It)

By Dr. Andrew Kakishita | Kinetic Chiropractic – Lehi, UT

As the temperature drops in Lehi and across Utah, you might notice that your joints feel tighter and your muscles don’t move as easily. This stiffness is a common experience, especially for people who are active or recovering from past injuries. Understanding why it happens and what to do about it can help you stay mobile and comfortable all winter.

Why Cold Makes Your Body Stiff

When it’s cold, blood flow to your muscles and joints slows down. This makes tissues less flexible and more prone to tension. Your nervous system also responds to cold by increasing muscle tone to generate heat, which can make you feel tighter.

People with old injuries, arthritis, or weak stabilizing muscles often notice stiffness more because their bodies are already compensating for underlying issues. The cold simply amplifies those restrictions.

What You Can Do to Feel Better

You don’t have to just wait for your body to “warm up” on its own. A few simple strategies can help:

1. Move regularly: Gentle dynamic movements like arm circles, leg swings, or marching in place help increase circulation and prepare your joints for activity.
2. Warm up before activity: Spend 5 to 10 minutes doing light movement before skiing, running, or even shoveling snow.
3. Stretch carefully: Post-activity stretching keeps muscles flexible and prevents stiffness from setting in. Focus on major areas like calves, hamstrings, quads, and lower back.
4. Targeted strength work: Strengthening key muscles around your joints helps reduce stiffness and prevents compensation patterns.

Chiropractic Care Can Help

Adjustments and soft tissue therapy improve joint mobility and blood flow, making it easier to move without discomfort. Combining regular chiropractic care with the strategies above helps your body handle colder temperatures and reduces stiffness over time.

Bottom Line

Feeling stiff in cold weather is normal, but it doesn’t have to limit your activity. With the right warm-up, stretching, and targeted strengthening, you can stay active, prevent pain, and enjoy all the winter activities Utah has to offer.