Weather-Related Pain or Meteoropathy has been Attracting Attention

Abstract

Recent topic concerning weather-related pain or meteoropathy is described. Such symptoms are observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, or headache, neck pain, stiff shoulder, back pain. Patients often feel pain when atmospheric pressure showed lower pressure of 1003-1007 hPa or decrease of 6-10 hPa. From psychosomatic point of view, decreased self-efficacy or higher catastrophic thinking are involved. Several questionnaires are useful for the evaluation, such as Pain Disability Assessment Scale (PDAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pain Self–Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), and Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). For treatment, exercise–induced hypoalgesia (EIH) would be effective.