Make no mistake, the feeling you experience in your arthritic joints before a thunderstorm is very real. The aches, stiffness, and pain that come from barometric changes can often tell you a front is moving into Katy before the weatherman can.

For generations, we have known that weather can affect joint pain. Hippocrates once said,"Whoever wishes to pursue properly the science of medicine must proceed thus. First he ought to consider what effects each season of the year can produce ; for the seasons are not at all alike, but differ widely both in themselves and at their changes..."

One of the main reasons people can sense changes in weather is due to arthritis. While there are many different types of arthritis, you can generally define it as "joint inflammation". It's a very common diagnosis for people with joint pain. Approximately 40 million people in the United States live with arthritis in one or multiple joints. There are many different reasons why arthritis develops, including: genetics, age, being overweight, and previous injuries. Once arthritis develops in the joint, changes can occur that give you insight in to the upcoming changes in the weather.

In 2007 in the American Journal of Medicine, a study called "Changes in Barometric Pressure and Ambient Temperature Influence Osteoarthritis Pain"(1) was published. In this study, they concluded that decreases in barometric pressure and decreases in temperature (independent of one another) increase osteoarthritis knee pain severity. While Katy is not known to see many low temperatures, we are definitely affected by barometric pressure. The understanding of barometric pressure and temperature on joints has become predictable enough that The Weather Channel has created an aches and pains map for the public to access(2). Other than dodging the places on the map that show high levels of aches and pains for the day, what can be done about it?

While you can't alter your age, genetics, or erase your previous injuries, some people can be helped with exercise and weight loss. Those are obese are twice as likely to develop knee osteoarthritis than those who are at a healthy weight(3). By keeping your weight down, you can keep the stress off the hip and knee joints, therefore decrease the likelihood of a future joint replacement due to arthritis.

If you already suffer from arthritis you may find that a warm pool feels better to exercise in. I wouldn't suggest using a pool for all of your exercise, but spending 5 or 10 minutes before a land based exercise program may make it a lot easier to get through your workout without pain. Keep active as much as you can. Who knows, start achieving the results you are aiming for, you may just have to start watching the weather again to find out what's going to happen tomorrow.

Do you have any questions about exercise when you are dealing with arthritis?

Jason Hodge is a Medical Exercise Specialist and Personal Trainer.
Website: http://www.medicalfitnesspros.com

(1) http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0002-9343/PIIS...
(2) http://preview.weather.com/maps/activity/achesandpains/index_large.html
(3) http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/arthritis.htm