Key Takeaways
- Cold winter weather often worsens arthritis symptoms by increasing joint stiffness, reducing circulation, and limiting daily movement.
- Lower temperatures and barometric pressure changes can intensify inflammation, leading to more pain and reduced flexibility.
- Staying warm, maintaining gentle activity, and managing inflammation are essential for easing winter arthritis flare-ups.
- For individuals with inflammatory arthritis, advanced infusion therapies such as Infliximab (Remicade®, Renflexis®, Avsola®), Rituximab (Rituxan®, Truxima®, Ruxience®), Simponi Aria®, Orencia®, and Actemra® help reduce inflammation and support long-term symptom control year-round.
- The Infusion Center at Denver Arthritis Clinic provides physician-supported infusion therapy for arthritis in Denver and Lone Tree. Schedule an appointment today to explore personalized treatment options.
Why Arthritis Symptoms Often Worsen During Winter
Winter can be especially challenging for people living with arthritis. Many individuals notice that their joints feel stiffer, achier, and less flexible when temperatures drop. While cold weather does not cause arthritis, it can significantly worsen existing symptoms, particularly for those with inflammatory forms of the condition.
Several physical and environmental factors contribute to this seasonal change, making winter a time when arthritis symptoms may become harder to manage without proper care.
How Cold Temperatures Affect Joints
Cold weather causes blood vessels to constrict to conserve heat. Reduced circulation can limit blood flow to the hands, feet, and joints, causing them to feel stiff and painful. Muscles and connective tissues also tend to tighten in colder conditions, decreasing joint mobility and increasing discomfort.
In addition, colder temperatures may thicken synovial fluid, the natural lubricant inside joints, making movement feel more difficult and painful, especially in the morning or after long periods of inactivity.
The Role of Barometric Pressure
Changes in barometric pressure during winter storms can affect joint tissues. When pressure drops, tissues surrounding the joints may expand slightly, increasing pressure on sensitive nerves. This can intensify pain for people with arthritis, particularly those with already inflamed joints.
Reduced Activity During Winter Months
Winter often leads to decreased physical activity. Shorter days, icy sidewalks, and colder temperatures can discourage regular movement. Unfortunately, inactivity can worsen arthritis symptoms, as joints rely on movement to maintain flexibility, strength, and lubrication.
Types of Arthritis Most Affected by Cold Weather
Not all arthritis affects the body in the same way, but cold weather tends to have a greater impact on inflammatory forms of arthritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Winter Flares
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes ongoing joint inflammation. Cold weather may intensify RA symptoms by increasing stiffness, swelling, and pain, particularly during flare-ups. Because RA affects the immune system, managing inflammation is essential to preventing long-term joint damage.
Psoriatic Arthritis and Seasonal Stiffness
Psoriatic arthritis combines joint inflammation with skin symptoms. Winter dryness and cold temperatures can aggravate both joint pain and skin irritation, making symptom control more difficult without consistent treatment.
Osteoarthritis and Cold Sensitivity
Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on joints rather than autoimmune inflammation. While it is not inflammatory in the same way as RA, cold weather can still increase stiffness, limit mobility, and worsen pain due to tightened muscles and reduced circulation.
Practical Ways to Relieve Arthritis Pain During Winter
Managing arthritis in winter requires a combination of lifestyle strategies and medical care. The following approaches can help reduce stiffness and support joint health during colder months.
Stay Warm and Protect Your Joints
Keeping joints warm improves circulation and reduces stiffness. Wearing layered clothing, insulated gloves, warm socks, and supportive footwear can make a noticeable difference, especially for hands, feet, and knees. Using warm showers or heat packs may also help loosen stiff joints before activity.
Maintain Gentle, Consistent Movement
Movement is essential for joint health, even during winter. Low-impact activities such as stretching, walking indoors, or gentle range-of-motion exercises can help maintain flexibility and reduce stiffness. Short, frequent movement sessions are often more effective than long periods of inactivity.
Support Joint Health With Daily Habits
Staying hydrated, maintaining a balanced diet, and getting adequate sleep all play a role in managing arthritis symptoms. Proper nutrition supports joint tissues, while quality sleep helps regulate inflammation and immune responses.
Prevent Winter Falls
Slippery winter conditions increase the risk of falls, which can be especially dangerous for individuals with arthritis. Wearing shoes with good traction, using handrails, and avoiding icy surfaces can help protect joint health and prevent injury.
When Winter Arthritis Symptoms Signal a Need for Advanced Care
For some individuals, lifestyle adjustments alone are not enough to control winter arthritis flares. Persistent pain, swelling, and stiffness may indicate ongoing inflammation that requires targeted medical treatment.
Understanding Infusion Therapy for Arthritis
Infusion therapy is often recommended for moderate to severe inflammatory arthritis when symptoms are not adequately controlled with traditional treatments. These therapies are administered intravenously and work by targeting specific immune pathways that drive inflammation.
At The Infusion Center at Denver Arthritis Clinic, infusion therapy is provided in a comfortable outpatient setting with physicians on-site and a 1:3 registered nurse ratio for close monitoring.
Infusion Medications Used to Treat Arthritis
Infusion therapy options available through the clinic include medications designed to reduce inflammation, slow disease progression, and protect joint function. These treatments are tailored to each patient’s diagnosis and disease severity, helping improve quality of life even during challenging winter months.
Infusion therapy may be used to:
- Reduce joint pain and swelling
- Improve mobility and flexibility
- Prevent long-term joint damage
- Maintain symptom control year-round
Benefits of Receiving Infusions at a Dedicated Arthritis Infusion Center
Receiving infusion therapy in a specialized center offers several advantages:
- Physician support during treatment
- Attentive nursing care throughout each infusion
- A calm, comfortable environment with amenities designed for patient comfort
- Insurance coordination and copay assistance
This level of support is especially valuable during winter, when arthritis symptoms may require more consistent management.
Winter Arthritis Management With Personalized Infusion Care
Winter does not have to mean months of worsening arthritis pain. With the right treatment plan, individuals can manage inflammation, maintain mobility, and reduce seasonal flare-ups.
The Infusion Center at Denver Arthritis Clinic offers personalized infusion therapy for arthritis at locations in Denver (Lowry) and Lone Tree. Treatment plans are designed in collaboration with referring providers to ensure continuity of care and long-term symptom control.
Schedule Infusion Therapy at Denver Arthritis Clinic
Winter may intensify arthritis symptoms, but targeted treatment can help reduce inflammation and improve daily comfort. The Infusion Center at Denver Arthritis Clinic provides advanced infusion therapy for arthritis in Denver and Lone Tree, delivered in a supportive outpatient setting.
If winter joint pain is interfering with your quality of life, schedule an appointment to explore infusion therapy and personalized arthritis care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does arthritis feel worse in winter?
Cold temperatures reduce circulation, tighten muscles, and may increase joint stiffness. Changes in barometric pressure and reduced activity also contribute to worsening arthritis symptoms.
Can cold weather cause arthritis?
No, cold weather does not cause arthritis. However, it can worsen symptoms in individuals who already have arthritis, particularly inflammatory types.
How can I reduce joint stiffness during winter?
Staying warm, moving regularly, using heat therapy, and maintaining healthy daily habits can help reduce stiffness. Medical treatment may also be necessary for ongoing inflammation.
Is infusion therapy effective for winter arthritis flares?
Yes, infusion therapy can help control inflammation that worsens during winter, reducing pain and stiffness and helping maintain joint health throughout the season.
Where can I receive arthritis infusion therapy in Denver?
Infusion therapy for arthritis is available at The Infusion Center at Denver Arthritis Clinic, with locations in Denver (Lowry) and Lone Tree.
