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The weather has been the topic of conversation for the past few days. It has become dark in the mornings and very chilly.. So is the weather making my joints worse?
"I'm feeling the cold in my bones"
"Hands are aching in this weather"
Concerning the weather, some wonder whether joint pain is linked to the colder climate. Research studies showed the mixed result.
Over the course of 6 months, most people reported a modest increase in pain or discomfort when the weather was humid or windy or when atmospheric pressure was low(1).
For people who have limited information about arthritis, this blog will briefly discuss the cause, symptoms and treatment. There are two subtypes of arthritis 1) Rheumatoid Arthritis and 2) Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis develops in patients around 20/30 years old, while Osteoarthritis is usually above 40 years old. There isn’t one direct cause of Osteoarthritis, but professionals believe it is a combination of factors, we called this multifactorial.
The most common reason:
wear and tear with ageing,
high load on the joints such as being overweight,
environmental,
genetic factors.
Symptoms of Osteoarthritis are:
stiffness,
pain,
swelling,
muscle weakness.
In 2011 the European Journal of Pain found people with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms were affected by the weather more than others, some are more sensitive to the cold weather (2).
Physiotherapy is very helpful to Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers. Physiotherapy is key to the treatment and management of patients with arthritis. Concentrating on reducing pain and stiffness to help you have a regular daily life by increasing joint movement. The treatment and management are done through a tailored treatment programme. Techniques are provided within the clinic to allow you to be independent and to reduce pain/stiffness. For the older adult, it is of the utmost importance to keep warm in this colder climate and to keep moving every hour while staying safe.
BE PROACTIVE
TRY SWIMMING ONCE TO TWICE A WEEK
CYCLING INDOORS
WARM SHOWERS IN THE MORNING
HAND WARMERS
WALKING
STRENGTHENING THREE TIMES A WEEK
RIPON PHYSIO CO.
2. Smedslund G, Hagen KB. Does rain really cause pain? A systematic review of the associations between weather factors and severity of pain in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Pain. 2011;15(1):5-10. doi:10.1016/j.ejpain.2010.05.003
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