Do you experience joint pain when the weather changes? Maybe you’ve chalked it up to being an ‘old wives’ tale’ but much debate revolves around this subject. There is strong evidence, and working hypotheses, surrounding weather changes having an effect on joint pain. You may have noticed your pain unaffected by rainy weather changing to sunny weather when really it’s the opposite that’s more common. When inclement weather moves in, patients often report feeling a greater amount of joint pain and distress.

It’s not actually the rainy weather that causes the increased pain, rather it’s the change in barometric pressure. In fact, patients will normally experience increased symptoms well before the first raindrop falls.

Scientists who have evaluated this phenomenon, have concluded that as barometric pressure falls, there is less atmospheric pressure on the body tissues and joints. Atmospheric pressure has a tendency of causing even, external compression of your body tissues.

As the barometer falls, less pressure is in the body tissues. This is when joints may detect external pressure.

Although it is a relatively tiny change in pressure, it’s apparently enough to make a temporary but noticeable difference to the most sensitive joints in your body.

On the flip side, when the weather clears up and the barometer starts to rise you won’t perceive the same increase in joint pain as you do when it falls. This is because as increasing atmospheric pressure causes more external compression of the body tissues, it tends to support the most sensitive areas and joints.

MISALIGNED BONES AND JOINTS WILL POTENTIALLY BECOME MORE SENSITIVE TO A FALLING BAROMETER.
If you have a misaligned joint, that joint will have more stress. You may even experience pain or symptoms at or around that joint eventually. When pain becomes chronic your affected joints are the ones that perceive increased symptoms. Particularly as bad weather moves in.

Interestingly, we have found that patients will often report a reduction in their ability to forecast an impending storm, after their misaligned joints have been realigned, through the use of gentle chiropractic adjustments. Chiropractic care will improve joint alignment. This also has the effect of reducing joint and tissue stress. This reduction in tissue stress may cause the patient to become less sensitive to barometric pressure changes. Although not every patient with barometric sensitivity will notice a reduction in their pain as rainy weather approaches, many patients do. Having a routine, and preventative maintenance adjustment for wellness purposes will help you maintain better joint and body health.