With winter on the way, motivation tends to hibernate: dark mornings, cold air and shorter days zap energy and inspiration. A 2022 survey in The Independent found that a fifth of adults see their exercise levels plunge by as much as 37% in winter, with most blaming the cold and lack of daylight.

That “hibernation effect” isn’t just bad for your mood—it can lead to injuries come springtime. Jaclyn McKenna, MD, sports medicine physician at HSS explained. “If you don’t move it, you lose it—and it happens faster than people expect.”

Winter inactivity isn’t a harmless pause. Deconditioning leaves muscles, tendons and joints unprepared for the sudden spring surge. Dr. McKenna commonly treats weekend warriors who leap back into tennis or running only to face strains, tendonitis or joint flare-ups. “Acute injuries often happen when you go from zero to 100,” she said.

Read the full article at mofflylifestylemedia.com.