1 - nil to the Old Wives

"It's going to rain. I can feel it in my bones".

We've all heard that one before, but next time it might be worth paying attention. Especially if the person saying it suffers from rheumatic pain.

Researchers at the Centro Rhematologico Strusberg in Argentina have found that atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity could be linked to spontaneous pain in those suffering from arthritis and fibromyalgia.

The team asked 151 patients with fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis to record how they felt over the course of a year. The results were analysed against meteorological reports for the period and compared with 32 healthy respondents.

Fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis sufferers experienced more pain during periods of high humidity and rheumatoid arthritis patients during periods of high humidity and high atmospheric pressure. All three conditions worsened with low temperatures. The researchers found no correlation between pain and weather amongst healthy individuals.

Dr Ingrid Strusberg, leading the study commented, "These results support the belief that weather influences rheumatic pain, albeit in different ways, depending on the (underlying disease) and (the patient's) weather sensitivity".

Tuesday, 12 March 2002