Autumn, winter: does the weather really influence your pain?

"When the weather changes, my joints let me know." A knee that is more sensitive in humid weather, stiffness when the cold sets in, significant back pain upon waking... These sensations are familiar to many people living with chronic pain.

Several studies have identified links between weather conditions and pain experienced. At the Terres Rouges Physiotherapy Clinic in Rumelange , we offer you a better understanding of these findings and what they may mean for your daily life.

The humidity and wind combined with more painful days

In 2019, the British study Cloudy with a Chance of Pain analyzed data from 2,658 people suffering from chronic pain , collected over a period of fifteen months. Participants recorded their symptoms on an app, and then researchers compared them to weather records.

Days with higher humidity, wind, and lower atmospheric pressure were associated with more painful episodes.

These links persisted after taking into account mood and physical activity.

The association was modest , but statistically significant in this study. In contrast, temperature alone was not significantly linked to painful episodes in the main analysis: therefore, cold was not the determining factor in this study.

Osteoarthritis: damp and cold weather can be a factor

A European study published in 2015 focused on 810 people aged 65 to 85 years , suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee, hand or hip.

She observed an association between higher humidity and increased joint pain. This association was more pronounced in relatively cold weather . In contrast, day-to-day weather changes were not significantly associated with pain.

These results shed light on the sensations reported by some patients during cold and wet periods, without demonstrating that every change in weather triggers pain.

A review published in 2023, which compiled 14 observational studies on osteoarthritis , also found associations with weather, notably between lower temperatures and greater pain.

The weather alone cannot explain everything

Not all research points in the same direction. A 2024 review, compiling 11 studies, found no association between weather parameters and the pain episodes studied, particularly those affecting the knee and lower back. Diseases, populations, and measurement methods differ: monitoring the daily intensity of pain is not the same as identifying what triggers a new flare-up.

Your feelings deserve to be heard, without automatically attributing all your pain to the weather. New, unusual, or worsening pain requires medical advice, even if it coincides with a change in the weather.

The main cause of autumn aches and pains: "good" habits change

When it's cold or rainy, we can experience a drop in mood and energy, and feel less inclined to go out. Walks become shorter, evenings are spent sitting down more often, and some activities are put on hold (or even abandoned until warmer weather arrives).

These changes are helpful to identify in order to understand what accompanies your pain. Have you been less active this week? Spent more time in the same position? Gave up an activity that made you feel good?

To better understand the variations in your pain, also observe what has changed in your daily life. This will allow you to identify concrete avenues to explore with your physiotherapist.

How to stay active during the cold season?

You don't need to wait for spring to adapt your habits. In osteoarthritis in particular, personalized exercises are among the recommended measures for managing symptoms.

Here are some ways to make the movement more accessible:

• Plan an indoor alternative. When the weather discourages going outside, set aside time for your adapted exercises. Focus on mobility or strengthening exercises tailored to your abilities, ideally developed in consultation with your physiotherapist.

• Break up your activities. A shorter walk or several short sessions can be easier to incorporate than one long session in bad weather. Regularity is a key to managing pain.

• Adapt rather than force. If a movement significantly increases your pain, seek advice on adjusting the exercise, its duration or intensity.

• Identify what helps you. Note down the activities you tolerate better and the difficulties you encounter so you can discuss them during your consultation with your physiotherapist.

  
  

The goal is to find a rhythm that is compatible with your abilities, your symptoms, and the weather.

Tailored support at the Terres Rouges practice

Whether your pain seems to vary with the seasons or bothers you all year round, the key is to understand its impact on your daily life: walking, climbing stairs, working or resuming an activity.

At the Terres Rouges Physiotherapy Clinic , we begin with a discussion and assessment of your mobility, limitations, and goals. Depending on your needs, treatment may include:

• mobility and strengthening exercises adapted to your abilities;

• manual techniques and mobilizations;

• advice and exercises to continue between sessions.

Our chronic pain management program aims to help you better manage your symptoms and gradually regain greater ease in your daily activities. The support provided adapts to your progress and any challenges you encounter.

Are your pains limiting your movements or activities? Make an appointment at the Terres Rouges clinic in Rumelange to assess your needs.