If you feel that you can predict the weather by the pain in your joints, you’re not alone. Everyone seem to have an aunt, uncle, or grandparent that accurately predicts weather change by the pain in their back, hip, knee etc. In fact, this week in my Longmont chiropractic office I had patients presenting with pain brought on by the latest winter storm. Lately, science has come closer to explaining this phenomenon.
One leading theory points to changes in air pressure. People often associate rain and snow to increased joint pain. Research has actually shown that pain is more likely attributed to changes in air pressure. When mother nature brings precipitation, she also provides a drop in air pressure. What this means, is that the weight of the atmosphere around us has dropped. High atmospheric pressure acts like a compress, pushing against our joints and preventing swelling. When this pressure drops, joints begin to swell. Typically pressure drops before bad weather sets in, explaining how Aunt Tilly can predict the weather with her trick ankle. This also explains why so many older people have relief from their aches and pains when they move to a dry climate like Arizona. Less precipitation equals less atmospheric pressure change, and therefore less opportunity for joints to swell and become painful.
A very cold day without any precipitation can also cause our joints to hurt, due to a loss of blood circulation. When it’s cold out, our bodies drive blood away from our skin and towards our core to help us stay warm. This means that our fingers, toes, knees and elbows have less blood supply. With out adequate blood supply the metabolic needs of our joints are not met, resulting in a build up of metabolic waste. This accumulated waste can lead to soreness.
The best way to prevent this type of pain is to stay warm, keep moving, stay positive, and of course…. get adjusted!