Can seasonal changes cause joint pain?

If you have arthritis or a past joint injury, it’s common to experience a flare-up when the seasons change. This can be uncomfortable at best and miserable at worst. Fortunately, there are things you can do to support your joints, whatever the weather. Read on to find out what causes seasonal joint pain and tips that help reduce joint discomfort.

What’s the most common time of year to get joint pain?

Autumn and winter are the most common times of the year for joint pain because of the cold, rainy weather. There can also be lifestyle changes throughout these seasons - for example, more high-sugar comfort foods and staying indoors, which reduces movement.

What causes seasonal joint pain?

In this section, we’re looking into what causes seasonal joint pain so you can find ways to combat joint discomfort during the chilly months.

Cold temperatures

Over autumn and winter, the temperatures suddenly start dropping. You find yourself reaching for a jumper, zipping up your coat, rubbing your hands together and saying, ‘Cold today, isn’t it?’ And with the cold weather comes inflammation.

Inflammation happens when the cells in your body become aggravated and swell. This causes your joints to stiffen, reducing lubrication and creating friction. Every time you bend a joint, it feels less mobile, often causing constant aching or pain during movement.

Rainy weather

Rain is guaranteed in autumn and winter. The skies fill with grey clouds, and whether it’s a light drizzle or a thrashing thunderstorm, you know it’s here to stay. Unfortunately, that means your joints could start playing up.

The high water vapour content in the air causes the fluids in your joints to thicken. This makes moving your joints cumbersome, and they may feel weaker or more tender than usual.

A less healthy diet

Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter…it’s a sudden bombardment of holidays fuelled by chocolate, sweets, and alcohol. Not to mention, the number of roast dinners significantly increases when it’s cold and gloomy outside. Followed by endless cups of sugary tea, it’s no wonder that our bodies fall into a slump during the cold seasons.

While there’s nothing wrong with indulging, consistently consuming high-sugar foods and alcoholic beverages triggers inflammation. You may feel bloated, tired, and have difficulty concentrating. But it can also dramatically increase joint pain, causing the cells in your knees, elbows, fingers, toes, and hips to swell and become sore.

A lack of exercise

No one wants to go outside when it’s tipping down with rain, and snuggling on the sofa with a cosy blanket seems like a much better idea. You also may find yourself driving more often rather than walking or avoiding going out altogether so you can hide from the bad weather.

While these things are understandable when it’s raining and cold, it means you don’t move as much. When you’re sitting or remaining sedentary for too long, it means your joints stay in one place. They lack blood flow, begin stiffening up, and start aching even when you’re staying still.

A low mood

The lack of daylight hours and sunlight can lower anyone’s mood. You may even struggle with seasonal depression, which is when you experience depressive symptoms during autumn and winter. Depression is closely linked to inflammation, which can cause discomfort in the joints. So, seasonal blues may be the reason why your knee hurts more than usual.

Not enough vitamin D

The minimal sunlight over winter often means you cannot get enough vitamin D. The sunny vitamin is vital for bone health, keeping them strong to reduce the risk of fractures and bone weakness. So, when you lack vitamin D, you may feel an increased achiness or joint pain.

Read more: How to Get More Vitamin D in Winter.

How to reduce seasonal joint pain

Now you know what can cause a joint flare-up when the seasons change, let’s look at what you can do about it.

Take a collagen supplement

Collagen helps your body create strong, flexible tendons, ligaments, and muscles that support your joints. When you don’t have enough collagen, these supporting elements become weak, stiff, and inflamed. Taking an effective collagen supplement will help improve your collagen levels and enhance joint health throughout the seasons.

Read more: How Do Collagen Supplements Work?

Eat an anti-inflammatory diet

You need more calories to keep your body warm in autumn and winter, but make sure you opt for nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods. This means that instead of swelling your cells, they reduce inflammation to help mobility and minimise joint pain.

Our Liquid Collagen Supplement contains Panax ginseng - an incredible anti-inflammatory herb known to reduce chronic joint pain and help rheumatoid arthritis.

Engage in gentle exercise

It’s crucial to keep your joints moving over autumn and winter to prevent them from seizing up and triggering pain. You don’t have to engage in high-impact exercise, especially if you have tender joints or an injury. In fact, low-impact movement is best for joint care and mobility.

Gentle yoga and yin yoga help stretch and strengthen the small stabilising muscles around your joints to lower aches and niggles. Walking is another soft exercise that increases blood flow and keeps joints lubricated.

Increase your hyaluronic acid intake

Hyaluronic acid is a slippery substance that provides lubrication around your joints. It can help loosen thickened fluids that can occur from rainy, cold days, allowing your joints to move more smoothly. Arella Beauty’s Collagen Supplement contains hyaluronic acid to look after your joints regardless of weather.

Get your vitamin D

A vitamin D supplement in autumn and winter is highly recommended to replenish your levels. You can’t get enough vitamin D from food alone, so it’s vital to compensate with a supplement. Our Liquid Collagen contains vitamin D3 to help bone health and boost your mood during autumn and winter.

Look after your joints with Arella Beauty

Our collagen supplement is known for helping your skin glow and improving hair growth. And we’ve formulated our award-winning supplement with your holistic health in mind. That’s why it contains not just collagen for your joints but vitamin D, hyaluronic acid, and Panax ginseng to treat joint pain quickly. Reduce that seasonal achiness and try our collagen supplement today.