Can You Really ‘Feel’ the Weather in Your Knees? Experts Weigh In

That age-old claim about sensing a storm in your bones may hold more truth than skeptics once thought. Medical experts say there's real science behind seasonal twinges, along with a few simple habits that can help ease them.

As temperatures dip and people start reaching for extra layers, some may have "felt" the cold long before it arrived. You may have heard it from your parents or grandparents, who often say their knees and other joints hurt more when the weather turns chilly.

An older woman experiencing joint pain in her wrist | Source: Getty Images

It's a long-held belief that worsening weather can intensify joint aches. There's just something about cold, damp days that leaves muscles, ligaments, and joints feeling stiff and sore. As it turns out, there's science behind it.

"In cold weather, we have lower barometric pressure and sometimes that can increase swelling in certain areas. And you may not know this, but in your knee joint or wrist joint or any joints, those are really small spaces surrounded by joint capsule," said Dr. Elaine Husni, a rheumatologist with Cleveland Clinic.

"So anything that might increase swelling, even a little bit, people may feel it more and they can get joint pain," she continued.

An older woman suffering from knee pain | Source: Getty Images

Dr. Christopher Murawski, an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University, agrees that weather-related pain is a real phenomenon, and one he hears about from patients pretty frequently

"Patients do experience exactly what you're describing," Dr. Murawski said. "Warm weather, cold weather, changes in humidity, changes in pressure — they can all contribute to joint and muscle pain."

Like Dr. Husni, Dr. Murawski believes barometric pressure, the weight of the air surrounding us, plays a major role in seasonal aches. While we don't consciously notice it, this pressure exerts about 15 pounds per square inch on the body.

An older woman sitting in a chair while wrapped in a blanket | Source: Getty Images

When a winter storm approaches, barometric pressure drops, triggering subtle changes in the body. Dr. Murawski explained that although the research is still evolving, the theory holds up.

"While the science isn't perfect, physiologically it makes some sense," he said. "Changes in pressure can cause muscles and ligaments to expand. Fluid shifts can happen. That can lead to swelling and pain."

Dr. Husni added that blood vessels can also constrict in the cold, reducing blood supply to the fingers and toes. On top of that, muscles and joints lose water content as we age, which can make soreness more noticeable and lead to greater pain and stiffness.

An older man attempting to massage his shoulder | Source: Getty Images

To offset this, Dr. Husni recommended drinking plenty of fluids. She also stressed the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight, since carrying extra pounds puts pressure on the body and causes inflammation.

Dr. Murawski, meanwhile, advised staying warm and bundling up. Keeping joints and muscles cozy helps maintain blood flow and reduces stiffness. "Absolutely — put on some layers," he said.

A doctor examining a patient's knee | Source: Getty Images

"If you have really persistent joint pain in the cold, or the joint pain is escalating in the cold, or you have a lot of swelling with the joint that is lasting more than one to two months, you might want to see your primary care physician or rheumatologist to get that addressed and to make sure there is nothing going on in addition to just cold weather causing joint discomfort," she advised.

Staying active can also make a difference, according to Dr. Husni. She suggested yoga or swimming to build muscle tone, along with stretching or strength training to help bones and joints work in sync.