Are You a Human Barometer?

Ever noticed once of your elders commenting that their elbow, knee, fingers, neck, whatever else was sore, then go on to suggest that a storm was approaching?  At the time, you might have gotten a laugh out of it, thinking that they were following some old myth about joint pain.  Well, there’s some truth in that myth.  It all lies in the science of pressure.  And in reality, almost anyone can “feel a storm a’comin’.”  It just so happens that people who are already suffering from joint problems are more likely to feel the change because of raised sensitivity or irritation already existing.

The way that the Human Barometer Effect works is through pressure.  The air pressure changes when weather patterns become extreme.  If a storm rolls in, it influences general air pressure in the area.  While most of our bodies don’t register the change very strongly, our joints do.  That’s because of existing fluid and air pockets that rest among the cartilage, tendons, and bone ends of our joints.

Not long ago, I had a friend look at me and said, “How do your knees feel?”  Well, I have a chronic knee condition that is pretty similar to early-onset osteoarthritis.  I thought about it and replied with, “Well, they’re pretty sore today.”  Granted, I’d been on my feet for a big chunk of the day, but they shouldn’t have been that sore.  I asked why she asked, and she simply pointed behind me, towards the west.  Yup, a giant stormhead was rolling in.  And did it rain!

So, the moral of the story, next time some crazy old lady (or a not-so-crazy, not-so-old person) complains that their joints are feeling especially uncomfortable today, don’t pawn it off as a simple wives’ tale.  Barometic pressure can really cause flares of pain and inflammation in joints.  And maybe if your knees or elbows or shoulder or toes are feeling a little less nimble, you should sit down and check the radar on your computer, palm pilot, television, or whatever.  It could just be your natural Weather Watcher System going off!