Changes in air temperature, humidity, or air pressure do not exacerbate the risk of knee, back, or hip pain, debunking the myth that weather worsens discomfort.
Many patients commonly believe that changes in weather conditions can induce pain and aggravate their symptoms. Nevertheless, studies suggest that these weather variations do not have a significant impact. Professor Manuela Ferreira from the George Institute for Global Health and Leticia Deveza from the University of Sydney provide an explanation.
It's cold and damp outside. As you rise from bed, you sense it in your bones. Your right knee is acting up once more. This will make it more challenging for you to walk the dog or hit the gym. You attribute it to the weather, reinforcing the belief behind the myth.
While this notion is widespread, it is a misconception.
Upon reviewing the evidence, it was discovered no direct correlation between common aches and pains and the weather. In the inaugural study of its kind, we observed no direct link between temperature or humidity and the majority of joint or muscle aches and pains.
So why do so many of us believe the weather is the culprit? Here's what we believe is the actual explanation.
Data analysed "from more than 15,000 people from around the world. Together, these people reported more than 28,000 episodes of pain, mostly back pain, knee or hip osteoarthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis and gout were also included.
We then compared the frequency of those pain reports between different types of weather: hot or cold, humid or dry, rainy, windy, as well as some combinations (for example, hot and humid versus cold and dry)."
Suffering from back pain on a chilly day? We were curious to find out if the weather was truly the culprit. Image source: Adobe Stock
The research indicates that fluctuations in air temperature, humidity, air pressure, and rainfall do not elevate the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of knee, hip, or lower back pain, nor do they correlate with individuals seeking treatment for a new bout of arthritis.
The findings of this investigation imply that changes in weather conditions do not trigger exacerbations of joint or muscle pain, and a chilly day does not heighten the chances of developing knee or back pain.
The weather has the ability to impact various factors and behaviors that ultimately influence our perception and management of pain. For instance, some individuals may alter their exercise routine in the winter, opting for the couch instead of the gym. Prolonged sitting is directly associated with increased back pain.
Changes in sleep patterns due to extreme temperatures can also result in poorer sleep quality, which may exacerbate back and knee pain. Similarly, shifts in mood often observed in cold weather can lead to heightened back and knee pain. Therefore, modifications in behavior during the winter season may contribute to more discomfort, rather than the weather itself being the sole cause. Additionally, the belief that pain will worsen in winter, even if unfounded, can have a negative impact on how we feel during the season, known as the nocebo effect.
During colder weather, our level of activity may decrease. Image source: Adobe Stock.
This article, titled "No, your aches and pains don’t get worse in the cold. So why do we think they do?" was originally published in The Conversation. It was authored by Manuela Ferreira, Professor of Musculoskeletal Health and Head of Musculoskeletal Program at George Institute for Global Health, and Leticia Deveza, Rheumatologist and Research Fellow at University of Sydney.
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