Why Your Body Aches When the Weather Changes — and What You Can Do About It

Why Your Body Aches When the Weather Changes — and What You Can Do About It

Ever know a storm is coming before you see the clouds? If your knees, back, or shoulders start aching with every cold front, you’re not imagining it. There’s real science behind those “weather aches.”

The Science Behind Weather-Related Pain

The most likely culprit is barometric pressure, or the weight of the air around us. When pressure drops, air and fluid in your body may expand slightly. That subtle change can put more pressure on nerves and tissues — especially in joints affected by inflammation or arthritis.

Researchers from Harvard Health note that these tiny shifts can affect how pain receptors send signals to the brain. It’s not your imagination — the change in pressure really can amplify discomfort.

The most likely cause is barometric pressure — the weight of the air around us. When pressure drops, air and fluid in your body may expand slightly, putting extra stress on nerves and tissues. That subtle change can make joints affected by inflammation or arthritis more sensitive.

Research from Harvard Health suggests these shifts can change how pain receptors send messages to the brain. It’s not your imagination — pressure changes really can make discomfort worse.

Who Feels It Most

People with conditions like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, or chronic back pain are more likely to feel pain fluctuations. Cooler, damp weather can stiffen muscles and reduce blood flow to sensitive tissues; however, even healthy individuals sometimes feel twinges before a storm — especially if they’ve had past injuries. A study published in the Journal of Rheumatology found that joint pain reports increased with drops in barometric pressure and temperature.

Some people feel every cold front in their bones. Those living with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid