Category: Back Pain | Author: Stefano Sinicropi | Date: January 27, 2026
The calendar has turned to 2026, and while you’re probably hoping to start the new year off on the right foot, we’re expecting to see a slight uptick in patients to our office this month. But why do we expect an uptick in back injuries during the month of January? In today’s blog, we explain why January is a common time for new or worsening back issues to develop.
Why January Can Be Hard On Your Spine
If you’re like most people, you probably have some resolutions or goals in store for the new year. We don’t know what you’re hoping to achieve in the new year, but health and fitness-related goals are the most common resolutions that people put in place as they head into the new year.
It’s wonderful that you are hoping to become a healthier version of yourself in the new year, but you need to be careful, otherwise you may find that you’re worse off when all is said and done. How you approach these New Year’s Resolutions can be the driving force behind the uptick in back injuries during January. Here’s why:
- Overdoing It – Overstress injuries are one of the most common reasons people seek out care for their spine pain, and January is a common time to overload your back. If you’re starting a new fitness routine or recently purchased a gym membership, there’s a good chance that you’ll be putting much more strain on your spine than it’s used to. If you’re not careful about gradually increasing the amount of stress on your spine, overuse injuries can occur. We understand that you’re very committed to your resolutions early in January, but your body needs time to acclimate to and recover from this new stress. Going to the gym every day after not going at all in December is a recipe for an overstress injury.
- Extended Break From Activity – The holiday season can get pretty hectic, and this can derail your normal workout routine. If you had a pretty steady workout routine that got disrupted by the holiday season, you too will want to ease back into activity. Don’t jump back into a weightlifting or cardio routine at the same level that you did before your routine was disrupted, because this too can lead to overstress injuries. Even if you were a familiar face at the gym prior to January 1, know that you will also need to gradually ramp up the strain on your back if it’s been a while since you’re gone through your normal exercise routine.
- Weight Gain – The holidays can also lead to weight gain if we’re not careful. Holiday meals, alcohol consumption and limited physical activity during the cold holiday season can contribute to weight gain, and this added stress can contribute to back pain. If you’ve found that you’re a little heavier than you were before the holidays, know that your spine is now handling more stress with each step you take, and working to shed that weight can reduce your risk of back pain.
- Snow Removal – If you live in an area like Minnesota that experiences all four seasons, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll have to do some snow removal from your driveway or sidewalks in January. Poor shoveling techniques and repetitive strain on the back can contribute to back injuries, and we always see an uptick of snow-related back problems from shoveling or slip and falls in our office in January.
- Finally Addressing Pain – Lastly, we also tend to see an uptick in patients who use the new year as a launchpad for finally doing something about their chronic back pain. Whether they’ve resolved to finally get their back looked at by a physician, or they simply wanted to get through the holidays before making an appointment, we talk with a number of patients in January who finally said “enough is enough” when it comes to their persistent back pain. If you’re dealing with dull or low-grade chronic back pain, don’t let the issue linger any longer. Let us put an end to your back pain in the new year.
We still have openings in January, so turn to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at Midwest Spine & Brain Institute if you’re in need of spine care. For more information, connect with our team today at (651) 430-3800.
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