Osteoarthritis pain and weather

To evaluate the association between weather (barometric pressure, precipitation and temperature) and pain among individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) (n=154) at the following sites: neck, hand, shoulder, knee and foot.

This prospective study evaluated men and women, aged 49-90 yr, participating in a community-based, osteoarthritis exercise study (June 1998-January 2002). Weekly self-reported pain scores were collected using a visual analogue scale. Statistical tests, including regression and correlation analyses, were conducted. P values < 0.001 were considered significant.

The total number of pain recordings varied by site, ranging from 2269 (feet) to 6061 (hands). The mean temperature was 23 degrees C with a low of 0 degrees C and a high of 36 degrees C. Precipitation levels ranged from 0.00-21.08 cm, with a mean of 0.36 cm. Most associations explored produced non-significant findings. However, among women with hand OA, higher pain was significantly associated with days of rising barometric pressure (P < 0.001).

Among a population of exercisers aged 49 yr and older, overall these findings did not support the hypothesis that weather is associated with pain. While some associations were suggestive of a relationship, largely these findings indicate that weather is quite modestly, if at all, associated with pain from OA.