Rise in patients with complaints of muscle, joint pain: Doctors

As night temperatures in the city continue to fluctuate, elderly and patients with bone issues are reporting muscle stiffness and pain while moving

Pune: As night temperatures in the city continue to fluctuate, elderly and patients with bone issues are reporting muscle stiffness and pain while moving. Doctors from private hospitals have implied the symptoms to changing weather patterns.

It is critical to keep the joints warm by wearing multiple layers of clothing , doctors say. (Representative image)

Speaking about the complaints, Dr Parag Sancheti, orthopaedic surgeon and chairman of Sancheti Hospitals, said there is a rise in complaints of muscle pain during winter.

“During the winter, patients may experience pain in old injuries. We are also seeing an increase in the number of elderly patients who are complaining of joint pain. There are numerous scientific explanations for why this occurs. Low temperatures can cause the muscle to spasm. The winter season causes joint contraction and tightening. Also, because of pain, a patient may stop moving joints, which adds to the pain. Inadequate sun exposure during the winter results in insufficient Vitamin D, which can also cause pain “Dr Sancheti stated.

Sharing more insights, Dr DS Bhamare, head of the Department of Sports Medicine, professor and head of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Dr DY Patil Medical College, said that it is essential to stay warm while wearing more layers of clothes.

“It is critical to keep the joints warm by wearing multiple layers of clothing and controlling the room temperature. Mild stretching activities should be performed at least twice a day to maintain muscle strength. It is essential to stretch before getting out of bed. This could significantly help elderly patients avoid falls. We are seeing at least a 10 per cent increase in patients complaining of muscle stiffness during the winter “Dr Bhamare stated.

Dr Anand Jadhav, consultant and head of the Department Of Orthopaedics, Manipal Hospitals, Baner said that in elderly people, osteoporosis and bone weakness are quite common.

“It could be due to age, inactivity, or medications. Because the body needs to conserve heat and warmth in the winter, blood vessels narrow. As a result of the bad substances that linger around the bone, blood flow is slow, causing pain to patients, especially during the winter. The circulation of the bones slows. Furthermore, daytime sunlight is reduced, and people receive less sunlight, contributing to vitamin D deficiency. During the summer, the body must expel heat, which causes blood vessels to dilate, allowing blood flow to pass through and washing away any substances that cause pain in the nerves, causing a patient to experience pain. To counter it, get enough sunlight, exercise regularly, and watch your diet,” Dr Jadhav said.

Dr Rohit Chakor, consultant orthopaedic joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeon, Apollo Clinic, Wanowrie, said that about 10 per cent of the elderly patients that have visited the clinic have complained about bone-related issues.

“Many times, poor posture at work, prolonged sitting, or lifting heavy objects causes pain in the spine joints and backache. This is especially true during the winter, so in order to avoid backache, one must perform their daily routine activities safely, without jerky movements or heavy lifting of objects “Dr Chakor stated.