We’ve discussed the problem of frozen shoulder on this blog in the past, but to recap, it’s a condition that involves stiffness, pain and inflammation in the shoulder joint. It’s something that many shoulder specialists work hard to avoid following an acute injury or surgery, because long-term immobilization is one of the most common risk factors for the condition. However, recent studies have also shown that there may be a link between frozen shoulder and the onset of menopause. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at the connection between these two conditions and how to prevent menopause from causing similar issues in your shoulder.
Menopause And Frozen Shoulder
Before we dive in, we should be clear that there is no direct link between menopause onset and the development of frozen shoulder. However, there are a number of bodily changes that take place during menopause that create the right type of environment for frozen shoulder to develop.
For starters, 70 percent of people affected by frozen shoulder are women, and some of that is due to genetic and hormonal differences between men and women. These hormonal differences appear to be the reason why women going through menopause may be at a higher risk for frozen shoulder development. When a woman goes through menopause, they also experience a rapid decrease in the amount of estrogen their body produces. This is important because estrogen has a protective effect on the bones and joints in your body. In fact, more than 50 percent of women who go through menopause experience joint stiffness as a direct result of this loss of estrogen.
But it’s not just the hormonal changes that can lead to shoulder joint stiffness and even frozen shoulder. Again, while there is no concrete evidence directly linking the two conditions, menopause can also contribute to other joint pain in other ways. For example, many women going through menopause report difficultly sleeping or general fatigue, and poor sleep quality and a sedentary lifestyle can both negatively affect the health of your joints. This can create an environment where, combined with your age and natural joint degeneration that has occurred over the years, a person may be more susceptible to frozen shoulder.
If you are nearing the age where menopause may be in your future or you have already gone through the process and you’re noticing some stiffness or loss of mobility in your shoulder joint, talk to a shoulder specialist in your area. Treating a frozen shoulder at an earlier stage can greatly reduce the length of time your shoulder loses some mobility, which can get you back to doing all the activities you love sooner. In most cases, simple conservative techniques like physical therapy, stretching exercises and certain medications can help you regain flexibility in your shoulder.
Know that menopause can create an environment where frozen shoulder is more likely, and speak with your general practitioner or a shoulder specialist if you suspect something is wrong with your shoulder joint. We’d be happy to help you maintain mobility in your shoulder and keep you doing all the physical activities you love. For more information, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s clinic today at (865) 410-7887.
