Why do many people have knee pain in cold weather?

On days when the temperature drops sharply, many people wake up in the morning and get out of bed with stiff joints and knee pain. According to experts, knee pain in cold weather is a common condition and is often worse in people with musculoskeletal disorders.

Specialist Doctor 1 Nguyen Tran Nhu Thuy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3 said that knee pain due to cold is a condition in which the joint becomes painful, stiff, and difficult to move when the environmental temperature drops. This is a common symptom in people with osteoarthritis, periarthritis, weak quadriceps or circulatory disorders in the joint.

"When the weather is cold, the temperature drops, causing peripheral blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow to the cartilage and making the muscles around the knee stiffer. This makes the patient feel increased joint pain, difficulty bending and stretching, or increased pain when walking," Dr. Thuy analyzed.

Mechanism of knee pain in cold weather

Knee pain in cold weather is often caused by mechanisms such as: low temperature reduces the elasticity of connective tissue around the joint, quadriceps and tendons contract, causing a feeling of tension and pain; degenerated articular cartilage is sensitive to changes in pressure and humidity. Pre-existing pathologies such as knee osteoarthritis, bursitis, joint effusion, tendonitis.

Many people describe the following symptoms when it is cold: increased pain in the early morning or when leaving an air-conditioned room; feeling stiff in the joints, difficulty standing up after sitting for a long time; knee pain when going up and down stairs, sometimes the joints creak, and reduced flexibility.

Some cases are accompanied by mild swelling or sharp pain when the weather changes suddenly. The doctor will examine the knee, assess the ability to move, the swelling, the level of pain and the strength of the quadriceps muscles. Paraclinical tests may include knee X-rays, ultrasound to assess degeneration, effusion or soft tissue inflammation. In cases of persistent pain, it may be necessary to check for inflammation or evaluate the related muscles and tendons.

Cold knee pain is a condition in which the joint becomes painful, stiff, and difficult to move when the ambient temperature drops.

PHOTO: AI

Improve mobility and prevent pain from recurring

To limit the recurrence of joint pain, patients can apply the following measures:

• Keep your knees warm. Use knee pads or wear long pants to avoid direct cold wind.
• Apply a warm compress for 15 to 20 minutes to increase circulation and soften muscles.
• Rehabilitate your quadriceps every day with simple exercises like thigh curls, straight leg raises, or light cycling.
• Use painkillers if needed. Paracetamol or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used short-term if there are no contraindications.
• Apply topical pain relief gel to help relieve muscle tension and tendon pain around the joints.

If not treated properly, the patient may experience prolonged pain that limits mobility, quadriceps atrophy due to lack of movement, faster progression of degeneration, and increased risk of falls in the elderly.

According to traditional medicine, joint pain treatment often focuses on warming the meridians, dispelling cold, and activating blood circulation. Common methods include acupuncture, moxibustion, acupressure massage, or using warming herbs.

In addition, patients have access to a combined Eastern and Western medical treatment model. Treatment methods such as physical therapy, acupuncture, massage and medication are individualized for each patient. Diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation systems provide optimal support in pain control and improving mobility.

How to proactively prevent knee pain when the weather turns cold

According to Dr. Thuy, patients can proactively prevent knee pain when the weather turns cold by maintaining exercise for muscle groups around the knee joint, limiting prolonged sitting or standing, controlling weight to reduce pressure on the joint, and avoiding sudden movements when the muscles have not had time to warm up.

You should see a doctor if the pain lasts more than 1 to 2 weeks, is accompanied by swelling, heat, redness, suspected acute inflammation, difficulty walking, knee instability, pain that recurs continuously with every change in weather. There is a history of osteoarthritis or chronic arthritis.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-nhieu-nguoi-bi-dau-khop-goi-khi-troi-lanh-185251209202507275.htm