11/10/2025
Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause
💪 Why Your Body Feels Different in Perimenopause
If you’ve noticed new aches, stiffness, or loss of strength — you’re not imagining it.
Shifting estrogen (loss of estradiol) affects the muscles, joints, and bones — a cluster of changes researchers call Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause.
Common changes include:
• Joint pain or stiffness
• Frozen shoulder or tendonitis (more common in midlife)
• Muscle weakness
• Bone loss and balance issues (increasing fracture risk)
The good news? You can support your body through this transition.
A well-rounded plan that includes strength and mobility exercises, medical follow-up, and supportive therapies like massage can make a big difference in comfort and function.
In my practice, I take a whole-person approach — combining massage therapy with a customized home exercise plan to help my patients build strength, stability, and confidence between treatments.
Massage therapy isn’t a stand-alone fix, but it can be an important part of your overall musculoskeletal care through perimenopause and beyond.
Read more here 👇
https://thepauselife.com/blogs/the-pause-blog/musculoskeletal-syndrome-of-menopause-what-you-need-to-know?srsltid=AfmBOooZ4gpEIV98fgmypP44SfTkp_sJaU84kjjhg-hO1Nc9TKUZtwlt
The Pause Life by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Frozen shoulder and other musculoskeletal symptoms are frequently under-recognized as related to menopause. The new term musculoskeletal symptoms of menopause aims to change that.
