Just because the trees are bare and there’s a chill in the air doesn’t mean you have to forgo those daily walks outside for the dreaded treadmill. Anything but! In fact, outdoor walking during winter may have surprising benefits for people with arthritis. In addition to the decreased pain and disability you get from walking, stepping out in winter air can also:
Keep bones strong
Like bears, people tend to hibernate during the winter and, as a result, get too little sunlight, explains Lynn Millar, PhD, chair and professor of physical therapy at Winston-Salem State University in N.C. That’s too bad for bones. Sun exposure triggers vitamin D production in the skin, and bones need the “sunshine vitamin” to make the body absorb bone-strengthening calcium properly. Not getting outside during winter months slows down production and decreases the body’s store of vitamin D.
Continue reading The Benefits of Winter Walking for Arthritis →