Knee Pain: Winter Weather Causing More Pain
Lacey For many with knee problems, the winter season can bring pain and discomfort that affects their quality of life – making them flat out miserable. If you ever wondered why your knees hurt more during the cold season, we explore different causes and offer some remedies to help ease the pain.
Why Do My Joints Hurt More in the Winter?
Winter knee pain is caused by various factors. The most common of which is barometric pressure. Barometric pressure is precisely the measurement of the weight exerted by air molecules at a given point on earth, simply put, it is the measurement of the weight of the air.
What Does Barometric Pressure Have To Do With Your Knee?
Well, the weather changes with barometric pressure changes; therefore, your knees hurt more in winter. These changes cause ligaments, tendons, and cartilage within the joint to expand and contract. Also, since there is more pressure in your body, your joints, tendons, and muscles swell, leading to pain. When the barometric pressure changes quickly, it leads to even more pain.
Another possible cause is that your joints are cold. With the sole purpose to keep your body warm, blood is routed to different vital organs like the heart during wintertime. The outcome is that warmth is taken away from your joints, making your muscles rigid and prone to becoming sore and painful.
Another factor could be an issue with the Synovial fluid, also known as the joint fluid. The primary role of the Synovial fluid is to cushion the end of your bones and lubricate the cavities of the joints to reduce friction when you move around. This fluid flows freely between your joints, but it gets thicker when it gets cold, making the joint stiff and more painful.
We spend less and less time outside during the winter season, mainly because it is cold and wet. With no one wanting to go outside, and the absence of frequent sunshine, studies have shown low levels of Vitamin D. Besides the fact that this will lead to fatigue, bone pain is inevitable.
Home Remedies To Help Ease The Pain
- Make sure you are getting enough rest. Sleep deprivation might exacerbate your pain.
- Drink plenty of water. During the winter, the air is dry, and you quickly get dehydrated, tired, and achy.
- Exercising strengthens your bones and muscles around your knees, relieving pressure on your joints.
- Try a warm bath to increase circulation and loosen muscles.
- Keep warm, wear hats, gloves, and scarves when moving outside. Also, knee wraps and thick socks can add warmth to your knees.
- Eat nutritious food and maintain a healthy weight. Extra weight puts strain on your joints.
- And lastly, talk to your doctor about taking Vitamin D or other treatment options if the pain persists.