Managing Cerebral Palsy in the Cold
Hey everyone! Cassidy here with another blog on cerebral palsy and wintertime. If you haven’t read last year’s post, which featured products that I recommend for keeping warm in the cold, check that out HERE.
This year, I want to give you a little bit more of a personal approach on how I manage my CP symptoms and the cold. I know that cerebral palsy is different for everyone but I hope that this helps some of you manage what I think is one of the hardest times of the year to have CP.
I grew up in sunny Southern California and had not experienced true cold until I was 18 and living in Iowa for college, where I was introduced to the concept of winter through a polar vortex and temperatures below zero. I will never forget that first morning waking up and thinking why does my body feel like I did an intense workout yesterday? when I hadn’t worked out in weeks! It was an adjustment for sure, but I’ve learned how to manage it over the past few years and I get excited when I see snow.
It took me a couple of winters to get used to, but I absolutely love the snow! Dressing warm helps a ton!
One of the easiest ways to manage the cold’s effect on the my body is by keeping my muscles as warm as possible. Layering clothing in the winter is one of my favorite ways to do this because you get the bonus of being able to dress cute and functional! I also will put flannel sheets on my bed and use a blanket and a comforter. When my muscles stay warm overnight, I tend to be a little bit less sore and more mobile in the mornings. Stretching is also important, though I will admit that I don’t stretch as much as I should (anyone else?!).
Another key way that I manage this, which goes hand in hand with keeping my muscles warm, is to keep moving. If I have to be outside in the cold, I try to keep my body moving as much as possible. The more I keep moving, the more comfortable I am. Also, if I’m moving, it gives me less time to stand still and just focus on how cold I am.
The right shoes and the right socks make a big difference in how warm I stay as well. I know shoes can be a tricky subject for those of us with CP. Believe me, shoe shopping is not fun for me either. However, having the right boots, especially if you’re living in a climate that gets snow regularly, is key not only to decreasing pain and tightness, but also for reducing your fall risk. It definitely was a trial and error process for me before I found a pair that were right for me, but having thick boots with good tread made a huge difference for me. I had to try them on with both regular socks and think wool socks to make sure they fit. Wool socks in general are another one of my favorite winter inventions. I have several pairs of heavy socks and will even wear them with regular shoes for those in between temperatures or days when it’s cold, but not snowy.
Finally, my absolute favorite way to manage winter with CP is a warm drink! Whether you are a fan of hot chocolate, warm apple cider, egg nog, or even just a morning mug of coffee or tea, warming up from the inside out is the best! Consider this your permission slip to enjoy a few extra warm drinks this season, in the name of keeping your body warm! ;)
I hope my little management tips have helped!! Have a happy holidays, and I’ll see you all back here on The Disability Download in 2026!
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