October 25, 2024, 9:15 am | Read time: 3 minutes
When the weather changes, many people complain of joint pain. Dr. Martin Rinio, Medical Director of the Gundelfingen Joint Clinic, hears this time and again. But is there really a connection between the weather and pain? Read below what he advises people with aching joints.
Many people can feel approaching thunderstorms in their joints – or so they claim. Humidity and cold, in particular, are said to be able to aggravate joint pain. FITBOOK spoke to joint specialist Dr. Med. Martin Rinio about scientific theories on weather and joint pain and his experiences with the subject. Rinio is the medical director of the Gundelfingen Joint Clinic.
Joint pain and weather changes? “10 to 20 percent of my patients mention the topic”
FITBOOK: How often do you encounter the phenomenon of patients saying that they can anticipate changes in the weather due to pain in their joints?
Dr. med. Martin Rinio: “In my consultations, I see around ten to 20 percent of patients who mention this topic. However, I can’t say to what extent this is representative.”
How many people in Germany do you estimate suffer from weather sensitivity – and what is their explanation for it?
“There are no exact figures for this, as weather sensitivity is experienced very individually. There is certainly an influence that cannot be denied: We can all tell when a thunderstorm is approaching and the air is vibrating with electricity! For one person, this is associated with greater discomfort than for another.”
There is a theory that joint pain is particularly severe in osteoarthritis patients due to the weather. How do you assess this?
“A knee, for example, that is already showing pain due to osteoarthritis can certainly show a worsening of symptoms, especially in cold, wet weather. Dry, warm weather is more pleasant for many sufferers. Unfortunately, there are no explanations for the exact reasons. Perhaps an interesting addition: according to traditional Chinese medicine, cold and wet weather leads to blockages of the ‘qi,’ i.e., disturbances in the energy flow of the pathways, and therefore causes pain.”
“Basically, people with chronic pain often suffer from changes in the weather”
There are three approaches to medical explanations: Barometric pressure, temperature and humidity, and psychological factors as possible causes of joint pain.
“There are studies in this direction that see barometric pressure, especially when it drops, and humidity as having an influence on pain. Temperature is less of a cause of pain. Generally speaking, people with chronic pain often suffer from changes in the weather. To what extent the already existing sensitivity to discomfort plays a role here has not been researched.”
“It is difficult to compare the studies
A study published in 2014 showed a clear link between joint pain and the weather in 67 percent of test subjects. How do you assess this?
“Some studies do indeed look at this phenomenon, but it has to be said quite clearly that comparability is difficult. This is because age, chronic complaints, inhomogeneity of the group structure, etc., make it difficult to make concrete statements and comparisons. Nevertheless, 67 percent of the test subjects made a clear connection between pain and the weather or thunderstorms.1 Even if the exact reasons for the discomfort caused by changes in the weather are unclear, it cannot be denied that it is painful for those affected.”
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What advice do you have for people with joint pain?
“Don’t let pain ‘get you down’. Exercise as much as possible, because ‘if you rest, you rust’. Find a sport in your daily routine that is good for enduring or even reducing pain, such as cycling or swimming. Try heat or cold packs – whichever helps you better individually. Make sure you eat a healthy diet and also work on your mental fitness – with meditation, for example.”