Arthritis Pain & Weather: Any Connection?
Changes in the weather can be difficult for many individuals who suffer from arthritis. The weather has a high impact on how your joints feel and function. Studies have shown that there is a connection between arthritis pain and the weather.
Weather Conditions That Are The Worst – Based on a general consensus, it has been determined that wet and cold weather are the worst for triggering arthritis pain. After the weather settles in, your pain evens out. In a study of people with osteoarthritis, it was found that there’s a substantial connection between temperature, humidity, and joint pain. In a study of people with rheumatoid arthritis, it was found that swollen joints and pain were lower when the days were dry and sunny.
Why Cold Rain Triggers Pain – The exact reason why changes in weather trigger pain haven’t been determined. There are a few theories as to why this occurs. Some of the elevated pain stems from decreased activity. When the weather is undesirable, people have the tendency to remain inside. Another theory is changes in barometric pressure can result in contraction and expansion of the muscles, bones, and tendons. Low temperatures can increase the thickness of joint fluids, which cause them to be stiffer and more sensitive to pain while moving.
Managing Weather Aches – You may experience arthritis pain regardless of the weather conditions. It’s critical that you remain well-hydrated, particularly if the weather is humid or rainy so that you can keep your joints lubricated. Swimming is an excellent exercise if you suffer from arthritis. It helps to loosen painful joints, even in unsavory weather conditions. You can join a water therapy program or swim in an indoor pool. Swimming can have a huge impact on the range of motion of your joints. If you’re in need of immediate relief, then over-the-counter pain relievers or creams can aid in temporary relief of some of the pain. If you suffer from weather-related or any type of arthritis, it’s best to contact your physical therapist for functional medicine treatment options.
What Is The Best Treatment For Arthritis? If you’re tired of relying on medication to manage your arthritis pain, or the drugs simply aren’t doing the job as effectively as they used to, it may be time to consider other arthritis remedies. Physical therapy can help manipulate damaged joints to make them more mobile — and therefore help you to become more active.
“Physical therapists are best known for guiding you through exercises to help with rehabilitation and manage pain, and improve your activities of daily living.”, says Abby LeBlanc, DPT, a physical therapist at Elite Physical Therapy. “A good PT will employ a variety of techniques, including targeted patient specific exercises for strengthening, stretches, hands-on manual therapy, and bio-mechanical analysis among other things. They can help you maintain your health long-term by creating a program that you can use at home, giving you the tools to manage arthritis flare-ups and improve your daily quality of life“, she says.
If you are struggling with Arthritis Pain, it may be time to visit to Elite Physical Therapy.
Give us a call at 318-443-3311 for an appointment today!
