Does the weather affect your muscles and cause joint pain? Fact or Myth?
- Tia McKay
- Nov 17, 2025
- 1 min read
Many patients often say to me that their joint pain feel different when the winter approaches and the weather changes. Many people with arthritis or old injuries say they often experience more stiffness and pain when the weather is cold and damp. But is this sensation truly caused by weather, or is it a long-standing myth? Here is what I found out...
The science behind the sensation
The weather itself does not directly cause joint pain. However changes to the temperature and weather can influence how your body feels. When the Barometric pressure (the weight of the air around us) drops during rain and cold spells, it causes muscles, tendons and ligament to expand.
The expansion can increase pressure on the joints, increase the sensitivity of nerve endings, leading to stiffness and discomfort. It can also cause muscle to become less flexible. When this occurs, movement is more difficult and conditions like Osteoarthritis may feel worse.
How about blood flow and joint pain?
Temperature changes can also influence blood flow and nerve sensitivity. When the temperature drops the blood vessels constrict to preserve body heat. This will reduce oxygen delivery to muscles. In warmer weather blood flow to muscles and joints is improved allowing for better flexibility and reduced stiffness.
What can you do about it?
To summaries... whilst the weather cannot solely cause joint pain, its fluctuations can influence how we perceive aches and pain.
So to help with aches and pains in winter you should
have regular Osteopathy treatments
Walking and movement
Daily stretching