Do You Have Cold Weather Joint Pain?

Have you ever said or have heard someone say, \”I can feel it in my bones\” when referring to cold weather? It is becoming cold outside, and for some people, that means achy, painful, and stiff joints. There are certain speculations about how winter weather affects our bodies, causing discomfort, but no one knows for sure. There are things you can do to prevent body pain that comes every winter.
Why Do My Joints Hurt In The Cold?
Some of the theories for joint pain include barometric pressure changes in the atmosphere. Barometric pressure is the pressure of the air in the atmosphere around us. When it gets cold or when it rains, the barometric pressure decreases. One theory is that when the pressure changes, the body\’s tendons and muscles expand, causing joint pain. The changes in pressure cause your muscles, tendons, and other tissues surrounding the joint to expand, contract, and thicken, causing pain. Another theory is that people who have less cartilage and tendons around where the joints are due to damage or disease have more exposed bones and nerves in those joints. These exposed areas are more sensitive to the changes in pressure around us that can cause pain.
What Are Common Triggers That Cause Joint Pain In The Cold?
Body and joint pain are standard among people who have chronic pain and injury already.  This includes people with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis,  fibromyalgia, lupus, and more. The damage to the joints causes your body to feel more stiff and achy, especially in the ankles, knees, hips, and back even when resting.  People with chronic pain are known to be more affected by cold weather than others. If you notice any severe pain, redness, and swelling, you should seek medical care right away.
How Do I Handle Joint Pain In Cold Weather?
There are several steps you can take to reduce joint pain in the winter. Keep your body warm by dressing in multiple layers and use heating pads if needed on painful areas. This will help relax your joints and muscles. Walking and stretching your muscles and joints can also help. Keeping moving can help bring synovial fluid to the joints lubricating them to keep them from hurting. Physical therapy can help increase your mobility and decrease inflammation in your joints, helping reduce pain when cold weather hits.
Who To See About Joint Pain?
Osteo & Physio offers many therapies that can help joint and body pain caused by cold weather. Our therapists can provide a range of therapies targeting your joints to help reduce your pain even when it\’s not cold outside anymore. Some of the treatments we offer that can help are osteopathy, massage, physiotherapy, and more.  Schedule an appointment now with one of our many specialists to help manage your body and joint pain this winter.