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[Health](https://www.menshealth.com/health/) 2. [This Myth About Joint Pain Is Total Crap](https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19529724/joint-pain-and-weather/) # This Myth About Joint Pain Is Total Crap Science has just shattered a long-standing belief by [Christa Sgobba](https://www.menshealth.com/author/210506/christa-sgobba/ "Christa Sgobba") Published: Aug 10, 2017 2:26 PM EDT   Getty You know that old belief that you can feel it in your bones when it's going to rain? Well, the rain might not bring on your knee pain after all: [Wet weather actually reduces online search volume about achy joints](http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0181266#sec002), questioning the long-standing belief that arthritis flares up during inclement weather, new research in *PLOS One* discovered. Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed Google search results for knee and hip pain queries from 45 U.S. cities for five years. They believed searches could signal symptomatic joint pain, working off the hypothesis that elevated symptoms would trigger an increase in information-seeking behavior on the condition. They discovered that the weather conditions did play a role in searches related to joint pain—but not in the way most people would think. For one, rain was *not* linked to an increase in hip and knee pain searches. In fact, precipitation was actually related to a small but significant drop in the number of searches. So what *did* drive searches? Higher temperatures: As temperatures rose, so did hip and knee pain searches, peaking at 73 degrees for knee pain and 83 degrees for hip pain, the researchers said in a [statement](http://hsnewsbeat.uw.edu/story/rain-increases-joint-pain-google-suggests-otherwise). But small decreases for hip and knee pain searches were evident once temps increased to over 86 degrees. It’s likely not the weather itself that’s responsible for the shifts in searches, the researchers believe. Instead, it’s more likely that people increase their activity levels the warmer it gets outside, and it’s that change that’s probably responsible for the uptick in symptoms. **Related Video:** ​ ​ “We haven’t found any direct mechanism that links ambient temperature with pain,” study author Scott Telfer, Ph.D., said in the [statement](http://hsnewsbeat.uw.edu/story/rain-increases-joint-pain-google-suggests-otherwise). “What we think is a much more likely explanation is the fact that people are more active on nice days, so \[they're\] more prone to have overuse and acute injuries from that and to search online for relevant information.” So if you want to prevent hip pain or knee pain, it seems unlikely that turning to your calendar will help. What will? Try [eating these foods to fight knee pain](https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19517262/fiber-for-knee-pain/)—and steering clear of these [4 ways young, healthy guys are wrecking their joints](https://www.menshealth.com/health/g19543199/how-you-are-wrecking-your-knees/). (For more health news delivered right to your inbox, [sign up for our Daily Dose newsletter](https://www.menshealth.com/).)  [Christa Sgobba](https://www.menshealth.com/author/210506/christa-sgobba/) For nearly 10 years, Christa has created health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness content that’s steeped in science but engaging enough that people actually want to read it. She’s tuned in to all the latest research that people with an athletic lifestyle need to know, and prides herself on helping her readers apply it to their everyday lives. 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You know that old belief that you can feel it in your bones when it's going to rain? Well, the rain might not bring on your knee pain after all: [Wet weather actually reduces online search volume about achy joints](http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0181266#sec002), questioning the long-standing belief that arthritis flares up during inclement weather, new research in *PLOS One* discovered. Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed Google search results for knee and hip pain queries from 45 U.S. cities for five years. They believed searches could signal symptomatic joint pain, working off the hypothesis that elevated symptoms would trigger an increase in information-seeking behavior on the condition. They discovered that the weather conditions did play a role in searches related to joint pain—but not in the way most people would think. For one, rain was *not* linked to an increase in hip and knee pain searches. In fact, precipitation was actually related to a small but significant drop in the number of searches. So what *did* drive searches? Higher temperatures: As temperatures rose, so did hip and knee pain searches, peaking at 73 degrees for knee pain and 83 degrees for hip pain, the researchers said in a [statement](http://hsnewsbeat.uw.edu/story/rain-increases-joint-pain-google-suggests-otherwise). But small decreases for hip and knee pain searches were evident once temps increased to over 86 degrees. It’s likely not the weather itself that’s responsible for the shifts in searches, the researchers believe. Instead, it’s more likely that people increase their activity levels the warmer it gets outside, and it’s that change that’s probably responsible for the uptick in symptoms. **Related Video:** ​ ​ “We haven’t found any direct mechanism that links ambient temperature with pain,” study author Scott Telfer, Ph.D., said in the [statement](http://hsnewsbeat.uw.edu/story/rain-increases-joint-pain-google-suggests-otherwise). “What we think is a much more likely explanation is the fact that people are more active on nice days, so \[they're\] more prone to have overuse and acute injuries from that and to search online for relevant information.” So if you want to prevent hip pain or knee pain, it seems unlikely that turning to your calendar will help. What will? Try [eating these foods to fight knee pain](https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19517262/fiber-for-knee-pain/)—and steering clear of these [4 ways young, healthy guys are wrecking their joints](https://www.menshealth.com/health/g19543199/how-you-are-wrecking-your-knees/). (For more health news delivered right to your inbox, [sign up for our Daily Dose newsletter](https://www.menshealth.com/).)  For nearly 10 years, Christa has created health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness content that’s steeped in science but engaging enough that people actually want to read it. She’s tuned in to all the latest research that people with an athletic lifestyle need to know, and prides herself on helping her readers apply it to their everyday lives.