As we move from winter into spring there is a notable decrease in the amount of aches and pains that we experience during and post physical activity. Multiple studies have confirmed that as we move from season to season there are noticeable differences in our physiological and cognitive response to pain and injury. Below, we will discuss both the physical and mental impact that different seasons could have on you and your body.
Physical
Recent findings have shown that there are 3 main contributing factors that have an impact on the muscular aches and pains that we feel during the colder months of the year.
- Tactile sensibility (touch) vs pain perception: The way in which we perceive pain is heightened in comparison to the numbness we feel in colder weather.
- Rigidity of body parts: Since rigid muscles are more prone to injury and mechanical damage, pain receptors would register a more intense feeling when injured.
- Tendonitis: Due to a decrease in flexibility of the muscle belly, individuals tend to work more into their tendons, leading to inflammation of the tendon itself.
From these factors, we can conclude that during summer months when our body is functioning in warmer conditions, we perceive pain differently.
Mental
In winter months, the increase in depression and anxiety and the decrease in motivation can contribute to our heightened response to pain and injury.
- Depression: When an individual feels pain in colder months, the way in which they respond to that pain is heightened due to the increase in cortisol levels (stress hormone) which is brought about by the effects of depression.
- Motivation: In colder weather, our motivation decreases which in turn makes it harder for us to overcome an injury as it becomes harder for us to stick to the rehabilitation process.
- Anxiety: An increase in anxiety levels during colder months heightens the intensity in which we experience and perceive pain and the negative effect it has on our mental state. This makes it harder for us to overcome the pain.
In conclusion, we can see that during summer months when we are in a more positive mental state (owing to a warmer and lighter environment) we are able to perceive pain and injuries in a more positive way and ultimately we will overcome these injuries in a more effective and timely manner.
Owing to both the mental and physical factors discussed above, we can conclude that there is a link between change in season and the way we experience and overcome pain and injury.
