The soft tissues in the body – muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia – are subject to the same laws of physics as the rest of the world. In the cold, soft tissues shrink, become stiffer and more rigid. This will likely make an existing back or neck pain worse and may even cause a new problem.

Whether you work outside, are off for a shopping trip or a golf game, or you have to keep the heating turned down to save money, how you dress can make a huge difference.

In my youth I walked and climbed a lot and I learnt the hard way how to dress to stay warm. Here’s a few tips on how to do it and stay well.

• Wear several thin layers, not just 1 or two thick ones.
• The first layer should be soft and warm – nothing special is required, just a tee-shirt or vest is fine, but thermals are great if you have them.
• Tuck this into your waistband – this stops the cold air getting to your lower back.
• Unless it’s really cold or you work outside, trousers are fine, but thermal leggings are gorgeous and warm.
• The next layer is long, soft and quite thin – a thin fleece is great, or a thin jumper.
• Add a scarf – wrap it loosely but snugly around your neck and tuck it inside the second layer with the long ends spread down your chest – this is crucial as it seals in the heat around your body.
• Add a hat – the body is like a thermos flask and about 20% of heat loss is through the heat, especially if (like me) you are … challenged with natural (hair) insulation!
• As you get hot, try removing the hat, loosening the scarf or removing a layer.
• If you need another layer, try another thin fleece, a long sleeve shirt or a slightly thicker jumper.
• When you’re out and about, add a wind proof layer to all this – insulation is ruined by wind that simply blows all the warm air away.

Give these tips a try and let me know how you get on.