Can Changing Weather Affect Arthritis?

Do you have arthritis? 

Do you notice more pain during certain seasons? 

There are conflicting studies about how weather affects arthritis pain, but it’s clear that some people with arthritis feel changes in their joints based on the weather. Why?

Barometric Pressure 

Some studies suggest barometric pressure might have something to do with it. Barometric pressure – the pressure of the air around us – differs from day to day in accordance with the weather. Some won’t notice this change, but others are more sensitive to the changes and will feel it in their joints. One explanation is that cartilage inside a joint becomes worn away over time, and the now exposed nerves in the bones of the joint might pick up on changes in pressure. Changes in barometric pressure may also make your tendons and muscles expand and contract, which can cause pain.

Humidity and Temperature

Changes in barometric pressure cause changes in the weather, including humidity, precipitation, and temperature. If you feel more pain in cold weather, your body may be reacting to the low temperatures, low humidity, and low barometric pressure. Low temperatures can also make the fluid inside joints thicker, so they feel stiffer. If you experience more pain in warmer weather, your joints are picking up on the high barometric pressure, high temperature, and high humidity. The fluids in your joints may also become thinner and result in increased inflammation, pain, and discomfort.

The type and degree of your arthritis can also determine which types of weather might affect you. According to Professor Karen Walker-Bone, professor of occupational rheumatology at the University of Southampton, people with osteoarthritis generally prefer warm and dry weather, while those with rheumatoid arthritis tend to prefer the cooler weather.

How Can This Affect You Now?

March in Michigan is full of unpredictable weather. There’s the chance the weather may warm up, the snow may melt, only for there to be a snow storm the next day. These intense changes can cause some people to experience unpredictable joint pain. What can you do to relieve your pain? 

Pain Relief Laser Therapy and Chiropractic in Ann Arbor

If you experience more joint pain in certain types of weather, you’re not alone. Chiropractic adjustments and pain relief laser therapy can help. Gentle Activator™ adjustments can help relieve your joint pain and any pain in the surrounding soft tissue. Laser therapy can relieve inflammation and promote healing in arthritis of the spine, hips, knees, hands and shoulders. 

The cost of pain relief laser therapy at Thatcher Chiropractic & Laser is considerably less than other laser treatment centers. Laser sessions are quick and painless, averaging about 10 minutes!

Contact Thatcher Chiropractic & Laser today for chiropractic in Ann Arbor.