You’ve probably either heard others talk about how their arthritis lets them know about a change in weather, or you’ve experienced this yourself. But how does it work, and is it real?
Some recent research shows that it is. But it’s not as if your joints have minds of their own. Instead, says Robert Jamison, a professor of anesthesia and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, our joints react to changing barometric pressure. The tendons, ligaments, sacs of fluid and other tissues between the bones are affected when barometric pressure outside the body drops, causing the tissues in our body to slightly expand and press against the surrounding tissues and nerves, causing pain.
It sounds complicated, but in a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, Jamison simplified the notion by comparing it to a balloon. At full capacity, the balloon has equal air pressure on the inside and the outside. But with less pressure on the outside – representing barometric pressure – the balloon is able to expand more. This happens to joints that are prone to inflammation due to joint injury.
According to rheumatologists, this is more likely among people who have abnormal fluid buildup around their joints due to inflammation, and patients with fibromyalgia are more likely than others to report joint pain just before weather changes.
Protect your joints and limit aches and pains
During winter weather, it’s key to dress as warmly as possible and to cover your hands, head and feet to avoid lost heat. Here are some tips:
- Wear a hat to protect your head.
- Keep a scarf handy to cover your neck, a spot where cold air tends to slip in.
- Wear wool socks and waterproof boots to protect your feet.
- Dress in loose layers, as they trap body heat inside.
Exercise
If you have arthritis or other joint conditions, you know how important exercise is to keep healthy and minimize your pain and flare-ups. But it can be especially difficult to exercise in the winter due to cold weather that keeps you indoors and road conditions that keep you from traveling. Here are some tips to still get ample exercise:
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator wherever you are.
- Do hydrotherapy or take swimming classes.
- Keep on top of household chores like vacuuming.
- Stretch and do low-impact exercises while watching TV.
- Walk indoors, such as laps in a recreation center or around a mall.
