Changes in temperature and barometric pressure can affect how your joints feel. Pain and stiffness in cold or changing weather are common in people with arthritis or old injuries. People with joint replacements are sometimes surprised to notice it too: replaced joints usually aren't painful when the temperature drops, but some stiffness or sensitivity is normal.
Four ways to keep joints moving
Keep moving. It's tempting to rest when your joints ache, but inactivity often makes stiffness worse. Avoid sitting for long stretches, and keep up walking, stretching and other gentle activity.
Focus on nutrition. A healthy diet supports your joints. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, seeds and nuts, may help with joint inflammation. The evidence for glucosamine and chondroitin is mixed, though some people with arthritis report relief.
Layer up. Warm clothing helps joints stay limber, and a compression sleeve on the knee can ease achiness.
Try cold, not just heat. A heating pad feels good on a stiff joint, but if the joint is swollen, a cold pack is usually better at calming inflammation.
When to see a specialist
Whatever the season, you shouldn't have to live with joint pain. If stiffness and pain are affecting your daily life or keeping you from activities you love, there's a lot we can do, starting with medication, injections, bracing or therapy. If those stop working, joint replacement can give you your life back, and today the decision depends more on your activity and symptoms than on your age.
- Adapted and updated from Dr. Akhtar's column, “Hips and Knees Achy in Colder Weather? Tips to Keep Joints Moving Smoothly,” Inova Newsroom, March 2018.
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your surgeon about your own situation.