Barometric Pressure in Nanaimo
Weather and Joints
Healthy joints rest at subatmospheric pressure. That is, synovial joints have a slightly negative pressure believed to play a role in joint stability as well as nutrient flow into the cartilage. They are complex systems relying on micro hydraulic pumps to maintain this “below atmospheric” pressure which is approximately -3mmHg pressure or equivalent to .06 psi. Increasing pressures are thought to be a sign of injury or inflammation.
What we do know is this slightly negative joint pressure changes relative to the local barometre. Our synovial joints work hard to establish this joint suction. Nanaimo can experience significant fluctuations in this pressure. This is because we reside next to the largest body of water – The Pacific Ocean.
If your symptoms are random and you are not quite sure on the relationship to other factors, visit this page to see if you notice a correlation to barometric pressure. You may be more connected to the weather than you think.
Research links
- In a paper published in Internal Medicine , the authors demonstrated that barometric pressure can influence the onset of migraine headache.
- Rev Bras Reumatol. 2011 Dec;51(6):622-8. Influence of meteorological elements on osteoarthritis pain: a review of the literature.
- Ann Rheum Dis. 1987 Jul;46(7):534-9. Osmotic flows across the blood-joint barrier.
- Rheumatol Int. 2014 Oct 24. Does rheumatoid arthritis disease activity correlate with weather conditions?
- Ann Rheum Dis. 1995 Aug;54(8):670-3. Intra-articular pressure changes in rheumatoid and normal peripheral joints.