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We’ve all heard the old wives’ tale that you can feel bad weather on the horizon in your bones. Whether we’ve felt the pain ourselves or heard loved ones claim rain is coming, this longstanding myth has become engrained in our day-to-day lives…but is it true?

To date, there have been various studies conducted to discover whether or not this is true. While many people repeatedly claim there is a link, recent studies show that it isn’t true at all. Either way, it is important to look at all the relevant information when it comes to bone health.

Back in 2007, the Arthritis Foundation published a study from Tufts University finding that every 10-degree drop in temperature corresponded with an increase of arthritis pain. The cause of the pain is traditionally attributed to the barometric pressure – the weight of the atmosphere that surrounds us. Typically, barometric pressure drops before bad weather, causing lower air pressure to push less against the body causing our tissues to expand. When our tissues expand, additional pressure is placed on joints causing pain.

While this research has defended the belief that we can feel weather changes in our bones, recent studies found that is not true. Most recently, The George Institute for Global Health and the Kolling Institute at the University of Sydney in Australia conducted two studies to test the myth that pain and weather patterns were linked.

The first study gathered data over a four-year period of nearly 1,000 adults with lower back pain. The study focused on participants who reported back pain over the past few days, who had also said they were pain-free for at least a month before the pain began. After comparing this data with weather data, researchers found that there was no link between the number of weather parameters and back pain.

The second study included nearly 350 people who had arthritis of the knee over a three-month period. Every 10 days, participants reported their knee pain on a scale of 1 to 10 and were also asked to report any severe pain occurred at any point during the study. Comparing flare-ups (any increase of 2 or more points on the pain scale) to meteorological data, researchers found no link between the weather and pain.

Truth is, that there is contradicting research that makes a certain conclusion impossible. While most recent studies show there is no association between the weather and pain, many people still swear that they can feel changes in their bodies. In fact, two thirds of people living with chronic joint complaints in San Diego, Nashville, Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts, believe there is a link between pain and weather changes.

Regardless of the research, if you do tend to feel a twinge (or more) of pain upon a storm or other dramatic change in weather, just remember that it is temporary. To decrease overall pain associated with osteoporosis, it is important to give bones the attention they need. OsteoStrong is an all-natural wellness solution that has been scientifically proven to dramatically (and painlessly) increase bone density in just a few months. Sessions are non-invasive, do not involve breaking a sweat and take less than 10 minutes each week. To learn more about recovering your bone density, find an OsteoStrong nearest you.

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