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Arthritis Can Flare Up in Colder Weather: Tips to Easing the Pan

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 20, 2024.

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2024 -- An arthritis sufferer’s joints start to get ornery when the weather turns colder, getting stiff and achy as the mercury drops.

Cold weather doesn’t cause arthritis, but it can make it worse, experts say.

"Our joints operate best in temperate weather," said Dr. Mariko Ishimori, interim director at the Cedars-Sinai Division of Rheumatology in Los Angeles. "When the weather gets cooler, the synovial fluid that acts like motor oil in our joints becomes more like sludge."

Frigid temperatures also can increase a person’s pain sensitivity, slow their blood circulation, and promote muscle spasms, the Arthritis Foundation says.

And if that weren’t enough, your joints detect and respond to changes in air pressure that accompany weather fronts.

"A drop in barometric pressure can cause muscles and tendons to expand, which can put more stress on an already crowded joint," Ishimori said in a Cedars Sinai news release. "When your joint cap expands, you can feel that."

But there are some simple steps that people with arthritis can take to protect themselves against joint pain caused by cold weather, experts say.

These recommendations will vary between people. Ishimori recommends that each person explore how cold weather affects their joints, then pursue the lifestyle changes most apt to make them feel better.

"There's a lot we can do to ease joint pain and stiffness," Ishimori said. "You don't need to suffer in silence."

SOURCE: Cedars-Sinai Los Angeles, news release

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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