|
|
|
Weather Joints
September 10, 2007
|
A rainy day can have an impact on your joints’ abilities to move properly.
A rainy overcast day perhaps…nothing is better for vegging on your couch or taking
a nap. But the wet weather can cause some discomfort in your joints, especially
your knees, elbows and shoulders. Physical therapist Barbara Pagano-Westgate explains, “What we typically see is on rainy days or even overcast days if there is any chance
of precipitation that day than usually we have patients coming in complaining more
often than not about joint pain.”
Physical therapy patient Sheldon Brown says, “It’s a throbbing ache, it’s a constant
throbbing ache.”
Physical therapists like Barbara contribute weather-related joint pain and stiffness
to the environment’s pressure, also called barometric pressure. Receptors in our
joints actually signal our brain when there‘s increased pressure. “So the thought
is that when it’s raining out the barometric pressure is up and the receptors in
your joints will sense this and possibly cause pain.”
Sheldon adds, “More stiffness than normal if its equated to your leg is in a vice
and it normally feels stiff on those days where its more humid or raining its so
tight in the vice.”
Physical therapy techniques such as stretching and weight training as well as ice
packs can help relieve your joint aches.
Patients who I’ve recently had joint surgery are also more likely to experience
joint pain and stiffness with the rainy weather conditions.
|
|
|
|
