Why cold weather makes your joints hurt

If you feel like your body is 20 years older every time the temperature drops, you are not imagining it! Cold weather can be painful. Here is why.

"Our joints, [which] feel this pain, are synovial joints. [That] means there is fluid inside of them. So, if the pressure that we feel in our atmosphere changes, the pressure in our joints, and how we are dispersing forces, would also be affected," said Dr. Chelsey Spano, chiropractor and owner of Roseland Wellness.

Fluid in the joint also thickens in colder weather, which increases stiffness and friction. Multiple studies have confirmed this pain concluding that cold air with higher humidity seems to be the perfect storm for an increase in discomfort.

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"The joints that are going to feel and take this hit the most are any vulnerable areas that someone may have. If you have had a previous injury, you might feel it there. Typically, the most common ones I see are my knee, my hip, my hands, my shoulder, my lower back," said Spano.

When you look at the forecast and think, "my pain is about to hit," it's important to know this.

"The weather is not making our injury or our OA any worse, it's just bringing on more symptoms with the change in temperature or pressure in the air," said Spano.

So, you can blame the weather on this one. That's why following the forecast for pain prevention is key.

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"If I know I have arthritis in my knee, then I need to make sure I am doing all of my strength training. I am going for my regular care with my chiropractor, massage therapist, physiotherapist--whomever knows my story and I trust with my care. I'm really looking at putting the care into these areas that I know are trouble spots for me," said Spano.

Spano says motion is medicine for joints. When the cold weather stiffens you up, fight back with movement and exercise.