When your body becomes a real barometer.... Illusion or reality?
Well, the myth is half true... Let's just say that it's not the humidity that "rusts" the joints but the change in atmospheric pressure (but not only...). Explanations!
Many people complain of joint pain when bad weather sets in. Who hasn't heard "It hurts everywhere, it's going to rain! "The body then becomes the meteorological messenger, especially since these signals are verified and confirmed in most cases...
What exactly is going on?
Are joints sensitive to moisture as iron would be? The cold Would it add tension to the body causing musculo-tendinous "knots"? It would be in fact a mechanical reaction responding to the effects of the variation of the atmospheric pressure.
Pain receptors in joints and tendons respond to air pressure. Many rheumatologists agree with this version. Incredible, isn't it?
As soon as bad weather approaches, the atmospheric pressure drops, which awakens the sensory sensors of pain.
These same sensors are found throughout your body. This is the reason why you can be subject to general or localized sensitivity anywhere or at least where you already have sensitivity if you suffer from :
- arthroses
- gonarthrosis
- coxarthrosis
- fibromyalgia
- rheumatoid arthritis
- low back pain
- spondylitis
- old fractures
- other trauma (whiplash, etc.)
In addition, when the atmospheric pressure decreases (so in rainy or stormy weather), the internal pressure in the articulation also changes. This difference creates pain for those who already have joint problems.
What if the change in weather affects the quality of life and therefore the pain?
This hypothesis, which is also widespread, emphasizes the fact that when the weather turns rainy and cold, the people concerned tend to have a more disorganized lifestyle: pro-inflammatory diet, cessation of physical activity, low morale, drop in vitamin D levels, etc. This would indeed be an aggravating factor according to the holistic principles of naturopathy. A pro-inflammatory diet, rich in animal proteins (red meat, cheese) promotes the formation of uric acid, which eventually becomes lodged in the joints. This is thearthritis or the gout attack that appears.
Therefore, a change in atmospheric pressure combined with an inadequate lifestyle would be factors conducive to the appearance of joint pain.
Bad weather as a stressor
Few are those who like the cold and the rain... This time of the year is tricky to get through. With your morale at half-mast and your body tense from the cold, stress invites itself into your body. Under tension, your muscles contract, your joints stiffen. With limited mobility, these suffer: they are solicited under "constraint" with force and lack of flexibility.
How to limit the pain?
Unless you move to a better climate, there are some daily and natural practices that can help you improve your situation.
- It is important to keep physically active or do physical therapy to maintain the muscles around your joints. Indeed, a good muscle tone compensates for joint stiffness and allows you to have an adequate posture (verticality, support points...).
- Be sure to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet (e.g. Seignalet diet) by limiting lactose glutenWe must also reduce the amount of meat, deli meats, sugar and promote fresh fruits and vegetables, whole or semi-complete cereals, good fats (oilseeds, cold sea fish) etc...
- take food supplements (vitamin D, high dose turmeric, harpagophytum, nettle, blackcurrant, etc.). In this case, it must be determined with your naturopath so that the supplementation is targeted, personalized and therefore, effective.
What you need to remember
The articulation itself is not more damaged in bad weather. Generally, there is no swelling that is synonymous with inflammation. These are the sensations that are awakened or increased tenfold due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the change in the quality of your lifestyle. A global management approach revisiting all aspects of your life would allow you to be relieved of your joint pain.