Joint pain may be linked to changes in weather – findings from large new study

Changes in weather conditions can influence joint pain in older people with osteoarthritis, says research from six EU countries published in the Journal of Rheumatology.
A team looked at if daily or three-day average weather conditions caused joint pain fluctuations, and if changes in weather affect this trend.
Data from 810 people with osteoarthritis in the knee, hand and/or hips was analysed. Joint pain was assessed using two-week pain calendars for 18 months. Daily values for temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity and wind speed were recorded.

Results
• Significant associations were found between joint pain and daily and three-day humidity averages;
• There was a strong interaction effect between daily average humidity and temperature on joint pain;
• Effects of humidity on pain were stronger in relatively cold weather conditions;
• Changes in weather variables between two consecutive days were not shown to be significantly associated with reported joint pain.

“The associations between pain and daily average weather conditions suggest that a causal relationship exist between joint pain and weather variables, but the associations between day-to-day weather changes and pain do not confirm causation,” the research team concludes. “Knowledge about the relationship between joint pain in osteoarthritis and weather may help individuals with osteoarthritis, physicians and therapists to better understand and manage fluctuations in pain.”

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Image credit: Loren Kerns