Menopause & Joint Pain: Why Your Body Feels Different
Changes to bone and muscle health aren't talked about as widely as other menopause symptoms, yet about 71% of all women will experience menopause-related symptoms in their bones and muscles. The signs and symptoms range from decreased flexibility and muscle weakness to joint pain to more severe problems, such as adhesive capsulitis (more commonly known as frozen shoulder), that can cause severe pain and difficulty with movement.
The Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause is a new term coined to help classify this group of symptoms. Knowing what to look for will help you better care for yourself and discuss concerns with a healthcare provider.
Bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints are known collectively as the musculoskeletal system. Estrogen plays a crucial role in musculoskeletal health, and estrogen in the form of estradiol helps reduce joint pain by reducing inflammation and changes to cartilage. Estradiol, the primary form of estrogen being produced during a woman’s reproductive years, supports muscle strength by reducing muscle breakdown and boosting cells that aid in muscle health. It also slows the breakdown and remodeling of bone, as well as the destruction of cartilage and reduces the body's inflammatory response.
When someone enters the menopause transition, estradiol is no longer the primary estrogen. Estrone, a weaker form of estrogen, replaces estradiol, and this weaker version cannot preserve the musculoskeletal system as effectively leading to loss of muscle mass, decreased bone density and cartilage. The resulting physical changes are:
Muscle weakness
Reduced flexibility
Poor balance and increased risk of falls
Osteoporosis (a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle, making them more likely to break)
When these physical changes occur, women tend to report increased pain. You are not alone! Here’s where the movement experts at Health In Balance come in. We commonly treat these conditions:
Frozen shoulder
Tendonitis
Arthritis in hands, shoulders, knees, and hips
TMJ
General pain throughout your body that makes you feel like you are “falling apart”
Menopause may change how your body feels, but it does not mean you have to accept pain, weakness, or loss of mobility as your new normal. Understanding how hormonal changes affect the musculoskeletal system is the first step toward protecting your strength, balance, and overall quality of life. Physical therapy can help you stay active, reduce pain, improve mobility, and keep doing the things you love with confidence. If you’ve noticed your body feeling different during menopause, the movement experts at Health In Balance Physical Therapy are here to help support you through every stage of the journey.
