Are weather conditions associated with chronic musculoskeletal pain? Review of results and methodologies

Key Points

1. Many patients and doctors believe that the weather affects musculoskeletal pain.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

The majority of people who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain believe that weather conditions have meaningful effects on their pain (1,2). However, there is no scientific consensus on this association. Previous literature reviews have found mixed results and low-quality evidence. This narrative review examined the research looking at the association between weather variables and self-reported musculoskeletal pain.

The majority of people who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain believe that weather conditions have meaningful effects on their pain.

There was no single weather variable that was consistently associated with pain, and in many cases the associations were in opposite directions.

METHODS

Researchers searched for observational studies on the association between weather and pain, finding 43 studies that were eligible for inclusion. They reviewed these studies to determine the different methodologies, study quality, and results.

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