People with arthritis often complain of symptoms related to weather. One weather factor that does play a role in joints is barometric pressure.
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.
