Do changes in weather patterns worsen pain?

Low level laser may be helpful

Can you feel the rain coming through your joints? When someone tells you that they can feel bad weather in their bones, they might be right. Its common to blame joint pain on changes in weather and many of us believe out pain gets worsen during cold, rainy days. This is due to barometric pressure, the pressure of the air, can affect joints. However, recent research shoes humidity, precipitation and temperature are also at play.

Changes in barometric pressure

There are few theories on how barometric pressure affect joint pain, but so far none can say for sure what the connection is. One of the theories is that people with joint pain, especially arthritis, are sensitive to changes in air pressure. It can be the cartilage in the joint is worn away and therefore nerves in the exposed bones are more sensitive to changes in air pressure. Another theory is that the changes in barometric pressure can cause expansion and contraction of tendons, muscles and any scar tissues. Thus, leads to joint pain caused by arthritis.

Reduced blood flow to extremities

With drop in temperature, your body reserves heat by decreasing blood flow to the extremities and pump more blood into the vital organs such as heart and lungs. This can result in joint stiffness and pain in the joints. During winter, decrease in temperature can also make synovial fluid in joints thicker, so you might feel stiffer in cold weathers.

Lack of physical activity

Physical activity relieves joint pain but people tend to stay indoors and lounge around more when it’s raining and cold outside. Being less active on bad weather days can cause less blood flow to your muscles and joints which lead them become stiff and ache more.

Mood swings with weather changes

Weather fluctuations can alter moods and trigger headaches. You might feel tired, sad, less motivated and less likely to exert yourself in productive activities. If you’re feeling sad on rainy days, you’re more likely to worse physically. Negative feelings can magnify the perception of pain.

How to ease weather- related joint pain

• Keep yourself warm when the weather changes and temperature drops.
• Layer up and take warm showers and stay active.
• Exercise on joints gently such as yoga and swimming to build up muscle strength.
• Don’t strain your joints such as no heavy lifting.
• Good nutritional diet and get enough quality sleep.
• Take a hot bath or steam room
• Low level laser therapy

While patients experiencing pain especially during sudden weather changes, at Lakeside Laser our experienced and holistic chiropractors can assist in managing your pain and guide you in the right direction to better overall health outcomes. If you have any enquiries or would like to book an appointment, feel free to contact one of our friendly staff on 9300 0095 or visit our website at www.lakesidelaser.com.au.

Photobiomodulation - Used at Lakeside laser in Joondalup PBMT (Photobiomodulation) is a form of light therapy that utilizes non-ionizing forms of light/laser sources including low level laser and broadband light, in the visible and near infrared spectrum / sometimes blue light can be used in certain cases. It is a non-thermal process involving endogenous chromophores/ light eliciting photophysical ( like human photosynthesis) and photochemical events at many biological levels.