Dedicated athletes — even the weekend warrior variety — keep up their training even when the weather isn’t perfect.
Georgia winters often mean gray, cold days, but that isn’t a time for giving up on physical activity outdoors. Here are three tips from Dr. Matthew T. Simmons from the Northside Hospital Orthopedics:
1. Warming up is important.
“Endurance runners, with their lean build, are even more vulnerable to cold and wet environments,” Dr. Simmons said. “Also important, and often overlooked, is doing regular sessions of stretching and strengthening exercises.”
2. Stay hydrated.
When weather is colder, your body must work harder — that is, burning more energy — to maintain its core temperature. The body’s temperature drops, and blood pressure rises. “The body removes excess water to counter this in the form of urine and that’s why it’s easy to become dehydrated in the winter,” Dr. Simmons said. “Also, because you sweat less, your body doesn’t trigger thirst in the same way, so it’s easy to become dehydrated.” He said the need for hydration is the same in winter as it is in the summer.
3. Hypothermia is a real risk.
Move your training indoors if the temperature is too low because you could cause real damage to your body. “I know a treadmill may not be the ideal place for many runners to train, but maybe you can find an indoor track that will help keep your running routine and regimen fresh while preventing unnecessary strain and injury.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL ORTHOPEDICS.
