Menopause brings a range of physical changes, from hot flashes and sleep disturbances to changes in bone, muscle and joint health. During midlife, some women may also experience frozen shoulder, a painful condition that can gradually make everyday arm movements difficult.
Medically known as adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder occurs when the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint becomes inflamed, thickened and tight. This can cause persistent pain and increasing stiffness, making routine activities such as reaching overhead, dressing, combing the hair or reaching behind the back more difficult.
Is Menopause Directly Linked To Frozen Shoulder?
There is currently no established evidence that menopause directly causes frozen shoulder. However, the condition is most commonly seen between the ages of 40 and 70, which overlaps with the period when many women experience perimenopause and menopause. Hormonal changes during menopause can affect several tissues and systems in the body, prompting researchers to examine whether declining oestrogen levels may play a role in musculoskeletal problems. However, more research is needed to establish a direct connection. Frozen shoulder can also develop without an obvious cause. Certain health conditions, including diabetes and thyroid disorders, are associated with a higher risk.
Pain and stiffness are the two main symptoms of frozen shoulder. The pain may gradually become more intense and can be particularly troublesome at night. As the condition progresses, shoulder movement becomes increasingly restricted. People may find it difficult to raise an arm, rotate the shoulder or reach behind the back. Even simple everyday movements can become uncomfortable or challenging.
Menopause should not automatically be considered the cause of shoulder pain. Several other factors have been associated with frozen shoulder, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, previous shoulder injury or surgery and prolonged periods of limited shoulder movement. Certain cardiovascular conditions have also been linked to a higher risk.Women in the typical middle-age range are also more likely to develop the condition than men.
Shoulder pain and stiffness should not simply be dismissed as part of ageing or menopause. Persistent symptoms can have several possible causes, and a healthcare professional can examine the shoulder to determine whether they are consistent with frozen shoulder or another condition.