New York: For years, people living with arthritis and joint pain have believed that cold or damp weather makes their symptoms worse. However, recent research from multiple international studies challenges this long-held belief.
A central review of 11 global studies involving over 15,000 participants found little strong evidence that temperature, humidity, rain, or barometric pressure consistently trigger flare-ups in conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or low back pain.
One exception may be gout, where hot, dry weather and dehydration can increase uric acid crystal buildup, possibly leading to painful attacks. In contrast, other chronic joint conditions show inconsistent links to weather, suggesting that pain patterns are more complex.
New findings on knee osteoarthritis show symptoms may change based on weather and time of day, with cold mornings increasing stiffness and warmer evenings improving joint function. This indicates a possible connection between external conditions and internal body rhythms, like the circadian clock and hormone cycles.
Researchers propose theories that include barometric pressure affecting joint fluid, cold limiting blood flow and heat relaxing muscles. Still, emotional and physical factors—like mood, stress, inflammation, and activity level—also shape how pain is felt.
Experts recommend personalized pain management, like exercising during warmer hours, using heat therapy, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating an anti-inflammatory diet. Although the weather may influence symptoms slightly, it is only one factor among many. Patients and doctors can better understand and manage individual pain cycles with digital tools like pain-tracking apps.
