India, Oct. 15 -- It is mid-October, and the winter chill is about to set in. In these days when the seasons change, a common condition ails many across the country, especially the elderly: stiff joints. The knees feel tight on waking up, and the first few steps of the day are often slower and more careful.

"Research has not settled on one explanation for the link between cold weather and joint pain, but the pattern that follows is clearer. People move less when it is cold, the muscles around the knee lose some of their warmth and flexibility, and a joint that is used less tends to feel stiffer still," shared joint and knee replacement surgeon Dr Sushil Sharma with HT Lifestyle.

He noted that the sensible response is to keep moving whil...