Late Winter Newsletter

Wasn't it wonderful to have a white Christmas? Edinburgh looked beautiful with blue sky, sunshine and white snow but now that it's time to get back to work and school, the snow is beginning to lose its appeal. It's more than three weeks since we've seen the pavement and this is causing problems for all age groups.

Accident and Emergency departments across Scotland are reporting an increase in ankle and wrist injuries - both breaks and sprains - due to falls on ice or snow. As Physiotherapists we too are seeing people who have fallen in the snow or have suffered an injury whilst sledging. We are also hearing from people with increased back and knee pain as they struggle to walk on the icy streets.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise and is ideal to help manage chronic back pain but it's not possible in the snow. In fact, people who have to walk regardless of the conditions underfoot, like dog walkers, are reporting aches in muscles they didn't know they had due to the extra muscular effort of walking on uneven snow and ice.

During the winter of 1961/62 the snow lay in Edinburgh for three months. Let's hope this cold weather doesn't last as long as that, but if you need any help with injuries or with managing aches and pains due to the weather, please get in touch.

Best wishes
Carol, Gail, Zanna and Alison