Quick facts
- Omega-3 oils (found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel) could have anti-inflammatory effects on joints
- Eating a Mediterranean-style diet — rich in oily fish, wholegrains and vegetables — can also be helpful.
- Regular exercise is considered the most effective, non-drug treatment for reducing osteoarthritis pain
When the temperature drops, many peoples find that their hands, knees, feet, back hips can feel stiff, tender, sore or ‘creaky’. For those with osteoarthritis – the most common form of arthritis – joints can also feel painful and inflamed.
What is arthritis?
There are two types of arthritis — osteoarthritis, which is more common and usually age-related, and rheumatoid arthritis which can affect people of any age.
‘Osteoarthritis is often referred to as the “wear and tear” arthritis,’ says Dr Rhianna McClymont, Lead GP at Livi. ‘It’s caused by the protective cartilage inside joints, which acts as a ‘shock absorber’, becoming damaged and wearing down. This causes pain and sweling, which is normally most severe when moving the joint.’
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on the other hand, is an auto-immune condition in which the immune system starts to attack the joints. Although it’s far less common, RA can affect anyone, including the very young, and the earlier you seek medical help for it, the better the outcome. RA causes prolonged pain in the joints, including stiffness and swelling. It commonly affects the small joints of the fingers and toes, the wrists, elbows, shoulders and knees and the neck and jaw.
How is arthritis diagnosed?
If you have pain that gets worse the more you use your joints, a stiffness that’s not there in the mornings, or any of the symptoms above, talk to a doctor.
Here’s what can help winter arthritis pain:
1. Maintain a healthy weight
‘If you are obese, and therefore carrying extra weight, that puts extra strain on the joints and can exacerbate osteoarthritis,’ says Dr McClymont. ‘Regular exercise and a healthy diet plan to maintain a healthy weight and BMI are ideal.’
There’s strong evidence that losing weight can improve your overall health and physical function and this applies to those with osteoarthritis. Losing just 10% of your weight — if you are overweight or obese — can lead to significant improvement in symptoms of osteoporosis and pain relief.
A Livi doctor can help you with a plan toward achieving a healthy weight.
2. Eat a joint-friendly diet
Experts recommend that those with osteoarthritis aim to eat at least 1 portion of oily fish, like salmon or mackerel a week. The omega-3 oils found within the fish have anti-inflammatory properties that may help those suffering with this condition.
A Mediterranean-style diet that includes healthy oils, nuts and wholegrains may also help. One study found that patients with osteoarthritis had a significant reduction in pain after switching to a wholefoods, plant-based diet. Patients in the study also lost weight without counting calories or limiting portion.
3. Cut down on pro-inflammatory foods
Some foods are believed to be pro-inflammatory for joints, which means they could make symptoms worse. These include omega-6 polyunsaturated fats found in corn, sunflower and safflower oils, as well as saturated fats found in animal pruducts. It may be helpful to remove as much fat from meat as possible before you cook and replace omega-6 fats with oils and spreads rich in mono-unsaturated fats like rapeseed and olive oils.
4. prioritise exercise
Research shows that people with osteoarthritis can benefit from exercise, though they may be concerned about their pain getting worse. In fact, exercise is considered the most effective, non-drug treatment for reducing pain and improving movement for patients with osteoarthritis. Brisk walking, swimming, jogging, yoga and strength-training are all beneficial. The weekly recommendation for aerobic exercise is 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise a week.
5. Keep your joints warm
‘Keeping joints warm may help alleviate pain as warmth relaxes muscles and reduces stiffness,’ says Dr Clymont.
Warm showers and baths, heating pads, electric blankets and covering joints with gloves or even wrapping hands around hot drinks can all help with keeping your pain at bay in winter.
6. Talk to a doctor about your pain
It’s important to have a dialogue going with a doctor about how your arthritis is affected and your pain levels.
There are different pain-relief medicines you can take for osteoarthritis, depending on the severity of the condition and other health concerns.
