Working with a skilled chiropractor and pain relief expert like Dr. Nathen Horst means a focus on total wellness as well as patient education. The entire team at Horst Chiropractic wants to help patients understand the causes of body pain and how they can be prevented. A little bit of knowledge about the way our bodies work could mean less pain in the long run.

With that in mind, we receive a lot of questions at our Temecula, CA chiropractic center about cold weather and joint pain. For people who suffer from osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, the joint pain and inflammation can seem especially severe. We’d like to discuss why cold weather makes joint pain feel worse. We’ll then offer some tips for managing joint pain in cooler months and colder climates.

How Cooler Weather Affects Joint Fluid

You may notice that your joints don’t move quite as fluidly when it’s cold in the mornings or at night. Movement may improve later in the day as the weather warms up, but it can take a little time. If you’re visiting a place with much colder weather than San Diego County, this can be more pronounced.

Why does this happen? It may have to do with joint fluid, also known as synovial fluid.

Joint fluid is a natural lubricant in our bodies that surrounds the joints, helping them move freely. It’s similar to motor oil in a car’s engine. Like motor oil, cold weather can affect the viscosity of your joint fluid, potentially leading to stiffness and joint discomfort.

Possible Links Between Inflammation and Low Barometric Pressure

There’s a Web MD article that adds extra insight into the causes of joint pain and cool weather. The tendons are structures in our bodies that link muscles to bones. People who suffer from arthritis may experience expansion of the tendons and other structures of their joints during periods of low barometric pressure, leading to stiffness and pain.

The Web MD article does note that the relationship between barometric pressure and joint pain is difficult to define. Scientists are still trying to determine an exact causal link, and the research is ongoing.

Greater Pain Sensitivity in Cold Weather

We should also note an interesting article seen on the Weather Channel’s website that answers why the hands and feet are so sensitive to pain in cold weather. The article featured expert insight from Dr. Bryan McNally, an associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Emory, and Dr. Michael B. Gottschalk, a surgeon who specializes in upper extremity at the Emory Sports Medicine Clinic.

The article noted that pain receptors in the hands and feet are especially sensitive to extremely cold weather, which makes joint pain more pronounced in wintery climates. As blood flows to your core to keep you warm, your hands and feet (especially your fingers and toes) may feel colder and much more sore.

Ways to Manage Joint Pain in Cold Weather

Thankfully, pain in cold weather seems to thaw once it warms up. Still, cool mornings and cold places can make it more difficult to get around.

To manage joint discomfort in cold weather, we recommend the following:

• Wear warm clothing and/or layers
• Walk around to promote circulation
• Stretch the affected joint(s) carefully to improve blood flow
• Exercise regularly throughout colder months for good general wellness
• Have a heater in your room so it’s warm when you wake up
• Take a vitamin D supplement and try to get a little sun to help reduce discomfort and inflammation

Contact Horst Chiropractic

If you would like to learn more about relieving joint pain and improving your overall sense of wellness, be sure to contact a skilled chiropractor and sports medicine practitioner. The team at Horst Chiropractic is here to help.