You’re not imagining it — the cold really does make your joints ache
If you’ve ever woken up on a chilly morning and felt like your knees or fingers just don’t want to move, you’re not alone. Every year around this time, we start hearing more clients mention that their joint pain in winter feels worse — especially when the temperatures drop suddenly or the snow starts flying.
The cold can make your body feel tighter and less willing to cooperate, even if you haven’t changed anything about your routine. But there are real, physical reasons behind that stiffness — and there are also ways to fix it.
Why you may get joint pain in winter
As the weather cools, barometric pressure often changes too. Those shifts can cause tissues around the joints to expand a little, which puts extra pressure on the joint space — and that’s when people with arthritis or old injuries start to notice more discomfort.
Add in the fact that cold temperatures make your muscles and connective tissues tighten up (and we all tend to move less this time of year), and it’s a perfect recipe for cold weather stiffness.
So no, it’s not in your head — your body is genuinely reacting to the season.
The best thing you can do: keep moving
When everything feels stiff, the natural instinct is to rest more — but that can actually make joint pain in winter worse. Movement helps circulate synovial fluid, which is your joints’ natural lubricant, and keeps tissues warm and flexible.
Here are a few of our favourite ways to stay comfortable through the cold months:
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Start small: Even 5–10 minutes of gentle movement can make a difference.
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Add mobility work: Controlled joint circles or light stretches in the morning wake up your body.
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Warm up before activity: Get your heart rate up gradually before workouts or shovelling.
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Keep strength training: The stronger the muscles around your joints, the more supported they feel.
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Dress warm and stay consistent: It’s easier to keep moving than to start over after a week on the couch!
How a kinesiologist can help
At Longevity Nexum, we see this every winter — clients come in feeling sore, tight, and frustrated that they can’t move like they did a few weeks ago. The good news? It doesn’t take long to turn things around once you start moving strategically.
Our registered kinesiologists in Barrie create individualized plans that blend mobility, strength, and flexibility work so you can get back to doing what you love without pain. Whether it’s arthritis relief, recovering from an injury, or just staying active through the winter, we’re here to help.
You don’t have to tough out joint pain in winter — you just need the right plan and a bit of guidance.
The bottom line
Cold weather might be unavoidable, but feeling stiff doesn’t have to be. With the right mix of movement, warmth, and support, you can move through the winter months feeling strong and pain-free.
If your joints are starting to complain already, it’s the perfect time to book a one-on-one session and get ahead of it before it slows you down.
Written by Chelsey Torrance
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