Women’s Health: Hormones and Shoulder Pain
As a woman, I have a personal stake in women’s health and safety. My mother suffered significantly through peri menopause and menopause. It struck in her mid 40s. She had to have a full hysterectomy within a few years. She suffered from heavy periods, migraines, leg cramps, hot flashes, menopausal rage, etc. I don’t treat only women, but I do have a preference of care to them, because I feel like women’s health has been on the back burner for too long.
Did you know that hormone changes in women can impact shoulder mobility?
It’s called frozen shoulder (medically adhesive capsulitis). Symptoms involve pain, stiffness, and a gradual loss of mobility in the shoulder joint. The process can be slow, which means you might slowly get used to it, in a way that will hide it from being properly treated. It won’t be until you can’t reach your arms up to put on or remove clothing. You suddenly can’t lift your groceries.
Research (albeit limited, as women’s health is decades behind men’s) suggests women between 40 and 60 are at a higher risk for developing this condition. The drop in estrogen that occurs during menopause may lead to inflammation, reduced elasticity in connective tissues, and decrease natural join lubrication and tissue repair. It doesn’t help that women also being losing significant amounts of bone density beginning in their 30s.
It is actually, quite overwhelming. And the studies on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are overshadowed by the fear of HRT contributing to breast cancer risk. A study in the 90s spread the stigma that HRT can increase breast cancer risk, which can be true, but the numbers themselves were misrepresented or misunderstood. Individuals in one study from 2025 went from a 2.3% to a 2.7% risk. But, I am not a doctor or medical professional. I am providing links to some studies from people more educated on that than I. Perhaps it will help you get the ball rolling on ways to treat issues that endanger women in later decades. For example, HRT can help prevent or undo vaginal atrophy (giving you a more comfortable body and a better sex life). HRT can decrease or prevent UTIs in women (a very dangerous condition in women 70+ that can lead to dementia-like symptoms). HRT can help slow down the loss of bone density that causes osteoporosis and makes a slip in the shower become life threatening due to a broken hip versus a bruised one.
My first role in treating frozen shoulder in peri or menopausal is education. Exposing my clients to this information, even though there is nothing in it for me, except the better health in my clients. I don’t want my clients to come to me because they are in excruciating pain everyday from frozen shoulder.
Massage therapy can be very helpful in treating frozen shoulder, and I have experience doing so. With massage and lifestyle changes (movement such as stretching and exercising), and using ice or heat during flareups, shoulder issues can be eradicated. But, I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention how changes in your hormones can impact how your muscles and bodies feel. I do recommend doing your own research on HRT if any of these words sound familiar to you.
Also, book a massage! I am enthusiastically dedicated to giving each client the massage that they need. Whether it is to disconnect and relax or to get rehabilitative or therapeutic style of massage to correct or help repair pain or injuries.
