Humidity

Several studies have found a connection between joint pain and the weather, although definitive causal links have proved tricky to establish. What is known for sure is that joints contain sensory nerves called baroreceptors, which respond to changes in atmospheric pressure.

As a result, changing pressure in the air can cause the amount of fluid in a joint or the pressure inside a joint to fluctuate – so if you’re already susceptible to joint pain, humidity may exacerbate it. One Dutch study cited by Harvard Health Publishing (the media branch of Harvard Medical School) found that rising barometric pressure and humidity can make joint pain and stiffness worse, while other research has shown that higher humidity can be linked to increased pain and stiffness.

If you’re experiencing serious and sustained joint pain, make an appointment with your GP. But if the humidity is just making you feel a little more stiff and sore than usual, try going for a swim. Not only is taking a dip the perfect way to cool down during a heatwave, swimming is often recommended by doctors as a way of tackling joint and back pain. We’ve rounded up the UK’s loveliest lidos here.

Why your body aches more in the summer (and what to do about it)