When temperatures drop into the deep freeze here in Wisconsin, your body feels it—fast. Whether you’re scraping ice off the windshield, shoveling the driveway, snow blowing, hauling wood, or just trying not to slip on the sidewalk… winter has a way of turning “I feel fine” into “why does my back hurt?” overnight.
At ChiroElite, we see a big spike in back pain, neck stiffness, and joint flare-ups during extremely cold weather—and it makes sense. Cold conditions don’t just feel uncomfortable… they change how your muscles and joints function.
Here’s what cold weather does to the body, why aches and injuries increase, and how you can protect yourself all winter long.

1. Muscles tighten up
Cold temperatures naturally cause muscles to contract and stiffen, especially in the neck, shoulders, and lower back. Tight muscles have less flexibility and are more prone to strains when you suddenly twist, lift, or slip.

2. Joints feel stiffer
If you deal with arthritis, old injuries, or chronic tightness, cold weather can make joints feel more restricted. Even healthy joints can feel “rusty” because the surrounding muscles and connective tissues aren’t loosening up as easily.

3. You move differently in winter
When it’s icy out, your body changes the way it walks and moves—shorter steps, more tension, more bracing. That “guarding” pattern can create extra strain on your hips, knees, ankles, and spine.

4. Winter chores can be brutal
Shoveling, pushing heavy snow, carrying salt buckets, and trying to yank a frozen car door open are common triggers for:

• low back strain
• rib and mid-back pain
• neck tension headaches
• shoulder inflammation
• sciatica flare-ups

​And the tricky part is… many winter injuries aren’t dramatic—they start as a minor strain and worsen over several days.

Shoveling isn’t just “exercise”—it’s an awkward lift + twist movement done repeatedly in the cold.
Common mistakes:

• twisting while lifting snow
  
• throwing snow too far
  
• using a shovel that’s too short
  
• trying to move heavy wet snow quickly
  
• shoveling without warming up
  

If your back locks up after shoveling, it usually isn’t because you're “weak.” It’s often because your spine and supporting muscles were tight, cold, or already slightly irritated.

✅ 1. Warm up your body before going outsideEven 2–3 minutes helps:

• march in place
• hip circles
• shoulder rolls
• gentle torso twists
• a few bodyweight squats

​Think of it like warming up your truck before driving—your body needs that same courtesy in sub-zero temps.

✅ 2. Dress for mobility
Bulky winter coats can restrict shoulder movement, causing you to lift awkwardly. Wear layers so you can move freely while staying warm.

✅ 3. Use your legs, not your back
When lifting anything (shovel, salt, groceries, wood), keep the load close, bend at the hips and knees, and avoid twisting your spine under load.

✅ 4. Take smaller “bites” of snow
More trips with lighter loads is far safer than trying to muscle through heavy snow all at once—especially if it’s wet or packed.
​
✅ 5. Watch for hidden slips
​Even a small slip on ice can jar your spine and joints. If you “caught yourself” but feel sore later, that’s a red flag that your body took more impact than you think.

If you’re experiencing any of these after cold exposure, shoveling, or slipping, chiropractic care can help reduce inflammation and restore movement:

• sharp low back pain
• stiff neck that won’t loosen up
• headache starting at the base of the skull
• pain shooting down the leg (sciatica symptoms)
• shoulder pain after shoveling or scraping ice
• “locked up” mid-back or ribs
• pain that worsens each day instead of improving

​Pro tip: The sooner you address it, the faster it usually resolves. Waiting too long can let the problem “set in” and take longer to fix.

At ChiroElite, we focus on restoring motion and improving function—especially during the most demanding months of the year.
Chiropractic adjustments may help:

• improve spinal joint mobility
• reduce tension and muscle guarding
• relieve pressure and irritation in joints
• improve posture and movement patterns
• support recovery after winter strains and injuries

​Winter doesn’t have to mean weeks of stiffness and pain. The goal is to keep you moving well, staying active, and enjoying the season—not just surviving it.

Extreme cold weather is tough on your body—but a few smart habits can make a huge difference.
If you’re dealing with a flare-up, stiffness, or pain that started after cold weather or winter work, ChiroElite is here to help.

📍 ChiroElite – Eau Claire / Altoona, WI
✅ Same-day appointments when available
✅ Chiropractic care + movement-focused solutions
✅ Get relief and get back to life

​Call today or schedule online to stay pain-free all winter long.

I love everything about chiropractic. Its not only a form of natural health care, its an art. It takes dedication, skill, practice, passion, physical ability, personality, compassion and so much more. There are about 65 chiropractors in the Eau Claire WI area. Each one is different in most if not all the aspects I laid out above and very few have those characteristics mastered. For me, knowing that my profession requires a dedication to always improving, keeps me yearning for more.
Every patient's body is different. With practice, acquired skill and some natural physical talent, a chiropractor should continue to refine their art of the chiropractic adjustment each day. I'm very blessed and thankful to have practiced in a variety of chiropractic clinics around the country. These experiences have refined and shaped the skills I possess today. This not only includes the chiropractic treatment process, but also the bedside manner, passion and commitment to be the best with each patient that comes into my office. This is my office and I stand behind the care I give to every person I see.

Chiropractic patients normally come to my office for a select few reasons. Its normally neck pain, low back pain, sciatica or a nasty muscle spasm that just refuses to go away. Yes, chiropractic adjustments are great for these ailments. However, potential patients usually don't realize all the other wonderful improvements they'll make along the way. 
Its incredible how many people suffer from headaches on a regular basis. Its also surprising that most people don't consider chiropractic as a potential treatment for their chronic headaches and migraines. Just a few weeks ago I was in a consultation with a new patient. She had come in due to low back pain and sciatica. She never wrote down or mentioned headaches mostly because she was in so much low back pain she had forgotten, but also because she didn't think it pertained to chiropractic. Boy was she wrong! She had been experiencing headaches every day for years. Four days after her first adjustment I asked how everything was going. She said the low back pain was beginning to subside and more notably, she hadn't had a headache since the first time she saw me. It was surprising to her and to me it was another inspiring reason to come to work each day. Its now been 3 weeks of regular chiropractic care without a headache and her low back pain/sciatica is down to 2 out of 10 on the pain scale.
​There are many other great benefits of chiropractic care that I see first hand each day. Torticollis, latching, digestive problems and bed wetting in infants and children. Range of motion, fatigue, sleep, joint pain, athletic performance and many other improvements are made consistently with patients of every age. Not only do patients get out of pain and dysfunction, but they get their lives back so they can live at their best without physical limitations they had before.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but chiropractic can't fix you in one treatment. Pain is usually one of the last symptoms to show with disease and disfunction. Its also one of the first things to resolve. One treatment might get you out of pain momentarily, however, look deeper at why you were in pain in the first place. It could be due to a multitude of reasons. Many people sit at a desk or in a vehicle for long hours at work. Many people have had some sort of trauma whether a car accident, fight, slip on the ice or otherwise. Many people have imbalances in their musculature leading to poorer and poorer posture and spinal support. Whatever the reason, its likely been festering for some time and it'll take some time to treat and obtain lasting healing results. 
Don't stop there! Once you're feeling better and quality of life has been improved, don't quit. You're ready to graduate to the next level of care. Just like a retainer after braces, chiropractic maintenance care keeps you living at that high level. If you're still working at a desk or in a car, you're continually doing the things that put you in a poor state of health in the first place. Not everyone can quit their desk job or suddenly take all the stress out of their lives. Thats where periodic chiropractic adjustments come in. They work to combat the negative effects of all those things every person does to their bodies each and every day.