Newswise — CLEVELAND – Most of us shudder at the thought of being outside when the temperatures dip and cold weather sets in. That’s when we hibernate indoors, and for many of us, have decreased levels of physical activity. Adapting your workout to the outdoors during cold-weather months could prove beneficial to your overall physical and mental health. You may find yourself warming up to the idea of heading outside more frequently if you go about cold-weather exercise the right way. “We don’t want the winter to be when people stop exercising,” says James Voos, MD, Division Chief of Sports Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Head Team Physician of the Cleveland Browns. “The single act of getting out and getting your heart rate up is a benefit itself.” Dr. Voos suggests:1. Find a safe place to run. Cold weather can often bring icy sidewalks and narrow streets. If you’re running alongside snow drifts, and into the street, make sure drivers can see you.
2. Wear appropriate clothing that are brightly-colored and/or have reflectors on them.
3. Run in shoes that are water resistant and have deeper treads to help keep feet dryer longer and help with traction while running.
4. If you suffer from asthma make sure you know your limits. Exercising in colder, dryer, air can be a trigger for asthma attacks.
5. Hydrate. Make sure to drink plenty of water or electrolyte fluids.
Sound bites from James Voos, MD, Division Chief of Sports Medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and related b-roll are available to download at the University Hospitals Case Medical Center Newsroom at http://www.news.uhhospitals.org/
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