Does Menopause Cause Frozen Shoulder?
I received a question about how to get back to pole after frozen shoulder caused by menopause. And because I’ve never heard of menopause actually causing frozen shoulder, I got to researching!
The full answer is, of course, ambiguous at best. But there is some evidence to support Hormonal changes affecting connective tissue. Let’s dive in, shall we?
To be clear, there is no direct link between menopause and frozen shoulder. This is an inflammatory condition that causes fibrous tissue to develop around the shoulder joint causing pain, stiffness and reduced mobility.
But there is some evidence to suggest that hormonal changes can influence shoulder pain. And it is curious that frozen shoulder affects predominantly women ages 40-60.
I’ve searched the NIH site PubMed for any research articles supporting the frozen shoulder claim, but to no avail. What I have found, however, is that there is a direct link between frozen shoulder and diabetes in women. Mind blown!
The prevalence of frozen shoulder among diabetics is 3-5 times higher than those without diabetes. That’s because sugar molecules attach to the collagen in the joint making it “sticky”.
So, naturally I had to go down the menopause and diabetes rabbit hole for a bit. What else do you do when waiting for your GYNO? But I digress…
It turns out that as estrogen levels plummet, the body become less responsive to insulin (insulin resistance). This, in turn, can also lead to heart disease and breast cancer!
Wait a minute…but we’ve been told that estrogen replacement can cause breast cancer! Well, that study has since been disproven. And unless you have HR+ breast cancer (that feeds on estrogen) there is most likely no need to worry about HRT.
I am personally on estrogen (topical cream and patch) along with progesterone (cream) and testosterone (cream). My Dr. and I are still working on getting the levels right. It’s a work in progress for sure!
Please, please, please always listen to your medical professional when dealing with any medical questions. Do not base your decisions on my blog!!
If you found this helpful, feel free to reach out @bodybyfran on Insta or fran@bodybyfrantraining.com. I’d love to hear your thoughts or answer your questions!