The relationship between weather and joint pain

Biometeorology is the branch of science that studies the relation between the weather and living organisms.

In this branch is covered how changing weather in some individuals impacts joint pain.

Commonly as rainy weather moves in, people complain about hurting their joints, or flaring up their arthritis.

Today 18 News explored this relationship and talked to Dr. Richard Terry, a local physician, about the wide range that weather can impact us as humans.

"Patients attribute many of their symptoms to the weather, particularly their arthritis. People with emphysema can relate to breathing conditions, even mental health," Dr. Terry said.

Speaking to Bailey Carver, a girl who suffered a broken ankle a couple of years ago, she shared the struggle she is dealing with in changing weather conditions, "When a storm comes, any precipitation, I feel it in my ankle. I feel it closer to my surgery, but it still lingers. I can feel you know an ache-ness."

Air pressure decreases when a storm system is moving in.

Changes in air pressure can lead to joint pain by allowing expansion of soft tissue, tendons and muscles to swell and fluid around joints.

This can cause pain in a joint that has been affected by arthritis or has been injured previously.

Likewise, low temperatures can make the fluid thicker inside joints, so they feel stiffer.

When it's rainy outside, people tend to stay indoors and lounge around, and inactive joints become stiff and painful.

Keeping yourself warm and staying slightly active during these times is important to combat joint issues.

Recommended joints-friendly exercises include yoga, and swimming.

Read the original article "The relation of weather to joint pain" at https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/local-news/the-relationship-of-weather-and-joint-pain/