Why do broken bones hurt in the rain

I'd been working on my laptop when my ankle, titanium-braced from an old break, started throbbing. I thought nothing of it until I stepped outside, and into a surprise rainstorm. I'd always been skeptical of grandma's arthritic omens, but limping down the sidewalk in the wake of my own revelation gave me reason to reconsider. Could science have an answer for why some people seem to feel the weather in their bones? Turns out, scientists have been studying this for several decades.

The answer has been tricky to nail down, but most of the research seems to indicate that bones and joints, weakened by age or injury, seem to be sensitive to subtle changes in barometric pressure.

This is a measurement of the atmosphere's density, and sudden changes especially drops typically signal a change in the weather. In one of the earliest studies paywall to establish this link, published in , a pair of scientists from the University of Pennsylvania put four arthritic patients in a chamber where they had control of the temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.

Use these ideas to get relief from weather-induced joint pain:. If you expect aches and pains due to pending weather, be proactive. Talk to your orthopedist about taking anti-inflammatory medication. You can also use glucosamine to reduce joint stiffness. Call OrthoBethesda today to book an appointment with a physical therapist. Warmth helps with joint pain, but does not necessarily help reduce swelling.

For example, if bad weather aggravates arthritis in the hands, try wearing oedema gloves available at our clinics to minimise swelling. These gloves have been especially designed and manufactured to provide compression for the hand, wrist and fingers to control swelling. Keep moving. Before going outside during cold weather, try exercising painful joints to increase blood flow and move fluid around the joints to help reduce stiffness.

Abby Sewell. July 5, Most often, weather-related pain occurs in injured joints or at the site of a previously broken bone. The most common body parts to experience aches or pains as the weather changes are knees and ankles.

The barometric pressure drops when storms are rolling in, and somehow, the body detects this change, causing swelling of soft tissue or expanding of joint fluid. These changes in the collection are what ultimately lead to pain. If you suffer from inflammation or fluid already around the joints, you are more likely to feel it when the weather changes than others.

But the fact remains that that achy, painful feeling can be uncomfortable. Cold can also impact the body, specifically the joints.