Written by: Dr Fiona Lovely, DC
Many women are arriving in clinic with complaints of stiffness, sore, achey muscles and joints without experiencing this previously. These women tend to be 40+ in age and lack an injury to cause the discomfort. It’s important to consider how your hormones at midlife may be affecting your body.
Menopause is not only characterized by hormonal changes and reproductive system adjustments but also by various musculoskeletal symptoms that can significantly impact a woman's quality of life. This is called the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (MSM). This encompasses a range of symptoms affecting the bones, joints, and muscles, which can be attributed to hormonal fluctuations.
One of the most common musculoskeletal symptoms experienced during menopause is osteopenia and osteoporosis, a condition characterized by decreased bone density and increased risk of fractures. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health by inhibiting bone resorption and promoting bone formation. However, during menopause, declining estrogen levels lead to accelerated bone loss, especially in weight-bearing bones like the spine, hips, and wrists.
Menopausal women frequently report joint pain and stiffness, commonly attributed to osteoarthritis. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory properties that help protect joint cartilage and maintain joint function. As estrogen levels decline, inflammation increases, contributing to the development and progression of osteoarthritis, particularly in weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips.
I like to say that estrogen is a lubricator of all tissues, this is especially true with joints. For example: I see many women in their 40’s and 50’s with new shoulder complaints which can be attributed to the estrogen decline. The shoulder is the most freely moveable joint in the body and when it isn’t working well, you notice!
Muscle weakness and decreased muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, are also prevalent musculoskeletal symptoms of menopause. Estrogen has anabolic effects on skeletal muscle, promoting muscle growth and strength. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can accelerate muscle loss and impair muscle function, leading to decreased mobility, flexibility and function.
Menopause-associated hormonal changes can trigger new onset musculoskeletal symptoms, including tendonitis and bursitis.
Understanding the musculoskeletal implications of menopause is crucial for implementing preventive measures, such as regular weight-bearing exercise, maintaining flexibility with daily stretching, keeping your spine healthy with regular chiropractic treatments, adequate magnesium glycinate and vitamin D intake, and hormonal therapy when appropriate, to mitigate the impact of these symptoms and promote musculoskeletal health and well-being in menopausal women.
Dr. Fiona Lovely is a Chiropractor at AST Willow Park and can help you with your perimenopause and menopause-related concerns. In addition to her practice at Active Sports Therapy Dr. Fiona Lovely is the host of the wildly popular podcast "Not Your Mother's Menopause" which can be found on all of your favourite podcast platforms.
