Arthritis pain worse in the cold? No, victims suffer even more when it’s hot

Arthritis patients sometimes grumble that their joints are more painful when it’s damp and cold outside.

But now scientists say the bad weather is probably just making them fed up – so they complain more.

in fact, the notion that cold and damp make arthritis worse is probably a myth, because twinges in hips and knees are actually more likely on a sunny day.

the argument has raged for years over bad weather make joints stiffer, or if it just puts people in a poorer mood.

A study now appears to settle the debate. it found, based on internet searches for arthritis, knee and hip pain over five years in 45 cities, that victims suffer more when it is hot. Damp and cold weather may actually ease symptoms, the Us research- ers say, by keeping individuals inside and off their feet. they are most likely to seek help for joint pain when it is warmer because they are more active, which might put extra pressure on the body.

the study, led by the University of Washington, is published in the journal PLOs One. Lead author Dr scott telfer, from the university’s department of orthopaedics and sports medicine, said: ‘You hear people with arthritis say they can tell when the weather is changing.

‘But with past studies there have only been vague associations, nothing very concrete, and our findings align with those.’ the researchers studied internet searches because these are increasingly people’s first port of call when they suffer from health problems.

While older people, who are more likely to suffer arthritis, are less likely to use the internet, there has been a rise in silver surfers seeking help for their ailments online.

the study’s findings show searches for joint pain and arthritis rise as the temperature gets higher, based on a range from -5C (23F) to 30C (86F).

Knee pain searches peaked at just below 23C (73F) and were less frequent at higher temperatures, while hip pain searches peaked at 28C (83F) and then tailed off.

rainfall reduced search volumes for both types of pain. the authors say that those with arthritis may also move around less when it is raining outside. Dr telfer said: ‘We haven’t found any direct mechanism that links ambient temperature with pain. What we think is much more likely explanation is the fact that people are more active on nice days, so more prone to have overuse and acute injuries from that and to search online for relevant information.’

Natalie Carter of Arthritis research UK, said: ‘there is a lot of received wisdom around whether weather affects joint pain and although the weather may affect the symptoms of arthritis, it won’t cause the condition or affect the way it develops.’

Previously experts have suggested changes in temperature and humidity influence the expansion and contraction of tissues in the joints. Cold may also increase the stickiness of the fluid which lubricates joints.