For many years my arthritis patients have sworn that they can tell when a cold front is about to come through. In fact, this is one reason many of my older patients move southward, as their joints just feel better. So is this effect real? I’ve seen a few poorly done studies through the years try to confirm that arthritis patients can predict the weather. Now a new larger and well done study that suggests that an arthritic hip is like a mini-barometer. The authors investigated more than 200 patients with hip arthritis and measured barometric pressure, rain/shine, and relative humidity three times a month over two years. They used sophisticated statistical analysis to show that changes in barometric pressure and humidity did alter the patient’s hip pain and function. The amazing part was that these weather related functional declines were responsible for less than 1% of the total hip disability. So somehow these patients are detecting tiny changes in their hip when the fronts come through. The upshot? Hip arthritis patients may now consider a career in meteorology. This study does support that there is a correlation between how these patients feel and the weather, albeit a small one!
Learn More About Regenexx® Procedures
Request a digital booklet and more information to learn about alternatives to orthopedic surgery and the Regenexx patient experience.
We do not sell, or share your information to third party vendors. By submitting the form you agree that you've read and consent to our Privacy Policy.
Chris Centeno, MD is a specialist in regenerative medicine and the new field of Interventional Orthopedics. Centeno pioneered orthopedic stem cell procedures in 2005 and is responsible for a large amount of the published research on stem cell use for orthopedic applications. View Profile
If you have questions or comments about this blog post, please email us at [email protected]
NOTE: This blog post provides general information to help the reader better understand regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal health, and related subjects. All content provided in this blog, website, or any linked materials, including text, graphics, images, patient profiles, outcomes, and information, are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please always consult with a professional and certified healthcare provider to discuss if a treatment is right for you.
