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SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Do you ever feel like your grandma’s got a built-in radar for rain? Maybe your own creaky knee is dropping hints about the weather?
Hold on to your umbrellas. Turns out there’s some real science behind those old wives’ tales.
We’ve heard people say it forever. “My knee is acting up. That means rain is coming.” On the Suncoast, where we get cold fronts and pressure swings all winter, plenty of residents swear they can feel the weather changing before it even shows up on their radar.
So, is that real?
Yes. And the science behind it is called biometeorology, basically, the study of how weather affects the human body.
Here’s a simple way to picture it: Think of a joint like a balloon. When the atmospheric pressure is higher on a clear, sunny day, it pushes down on the body a little more, keeping that balloon slightly compressed.
But when a cold front approaches, barometric pressure drops. That pressure eases up and the tissues around the joints can expand just a bit.
That tiny expansion can increase pressure on nerves. And for people with arthritis or old injuries, it can mean more stiffness, soreness, or aches.
And it’s not just cold fronts. Some people notice it on airplanes. Even though cabins are pressurized, the air pressure is still lower compared to sea level.
Humidity plays a role, too. Higher moisture before storms can make joints swell even more.
If you’re feeling it, try gentle stretches or over-the-counter anti-inflammatories to ease it up before the weather hits.
So, no, you’re not imagining it. Your body really can react to the weather around it, even before it shows up on the radar.
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