Top doctor explains simple but important tip to beat joint pain in winter
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An estimated 10million Brits are battling osteoarthritis - with countless others suffering from chronic joint pain due to conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. With the country currently in the depths of winter, many dread the exacerbation of their relentless aches. Research reveals that around three-quarters of chronic pain sufferers feel the weather worsens their symptoms, a sentiment echoed by medical professionals.
"In cold weather, joint pain often flares up, and the reasons go beyond just stiffness from the chill," explains Dr Snieguole Geige from It's Me and You Clinic. For those prone to joint issues, joint inflammation and sensitivity can be keenly felt as a type of internal weather forecast, predicting cold fronts before they arrive.".
Despite ongoing debate and inconsistent scientific evidence regarding the impact of cold weather on joint pain, a 2007 study found that patients with osteoarthritis in their knees experienced increased pain with every 10-degree temperature drop. More recent studies, including a large-scale project by University of Manchester researchers, have supported these findings, tracking over 13,000 UK residents with chronic pain for more than 15 months, using a smartphone app to log daily pain levels.
The GPS location of their phone then linked their findings to the weather data and showed that on the days that most people reported high levels of pain, the humidity and rain levels were higher and winds were stronger. Raija Piispanen, 65, from London, has osteoarthritis and says the cold weather exacerbates her condition, reports the Express.
