The Worst Weather for Arthritis Pain

Many arthritis sufferers that one specific weather condition worsens their pain significantly, to the extent that they can even predict when it is coming.

New research from the University of Manchester now shows they’re right.

In this 18 month study, people report their level of pain directly once a day via a smart phone app.

The app also submit information of the weather conditions that prevail when the participants report their best and worst levels of pain.

The study is currently only halfway, but the scientists decided to report some preliminary findings at the recent British Science Festival in Swansea, partly because it is interesting, and partly because they are still looking for new participants to join the 9000 who have already signed up and downloaded the app.

If you are interested to sign up, the study is called “cloudy with a chance of pain” and is open to all residents of the UK who are over the age of 17.

The preliminary results are based on the inputs of participants from Leeds, Norwich, and London and show that their level of pain improved as the rain decreased from February to April, but that it worsened again in June when the amount of rain increased and the overall numbers of hours of sunshine dropped.

The researchers express the hope that a study that links pain severity to weather conditions can help people to prepare and organize their activities around the times when their pain is likely to be at its worst.

Alternatively, if there is no reason for you to be in Europe during its rainiest months, large parts of the southern hemisphere are dry and sunny from September to May.

Some previous studies have indicated that high barometric pressure and moisture may contribute to arthritis pain but, as Robert H. Shmerling, MD, the faculty editor at Harvard Health, admits after reviewing the available research, the studies are currently by no means consistent. Still, he does say that science clearly shows there is something to it.

Oddly, in a review of the research, scientists at the Arthritis Foundation draw attention to studies that show that air pressure continues to have an effect on the joints of cadavers, with one study showing that air pressure can move the ball of the hip joint by about one third of an inch.

This British study will almost certainly be the biggest of its kind once it is completed, which may add some sorely missed reliable data.

Hopefully the researchers have not interfered with their findings by releasing preliminary results and creating an expectation in participants that rain would worsen their pain.

But know what worsen pain is no help if you can’t cure it.

The good news is that thousands of people have already, completely healed their arthritis following the step-by-step strategy found here…