You’re already navigating hot flashes, mood swings, and hormonal shifts, and now your shoulder feels stiff and painful. If you’ve been wondering, “Is this part of menopause too?”, the answer is: yes, it could be.

Let’s talk about frozen shoulder in menopause, why it happens, and how you can take charge of your healing journey, naturally and holistically.

What is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder (aka adhesive capsulitis) is a condition where the shoulder capsule tightens and thickens, leading to pain and limited movement. It typically unfolds in three stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing. Full recovery can take months, or even years.

But why now? Why during menopause?

What Causes Frozen Shoulder During Menopause?

While menopause doesn’t directly cause frozen shoulder, the hormonal shifts, particularly the decline in estrogen, can increase inflammation and reduce joint lubrication. This makes women more susceptible during this phase.

Estrogen plays a role in maintaining synovial fluid and collagen, both essential for joint flexibility and repair. As levels drop, connective tissues may stiffen, and inflammation can rise.

Source: Medical News Today

Holistic Support for your Shoulder

Here’s how you can ease discomfort and reclaim mobility:

Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition

• Load up on omega-3s (chia seeds, walnuts, salmon).
• Add turmeric, ginger, and leafy greens to your meals. My Veggie Stir-Fry with Ginger-Turmeric Sauce is packed with anti-inflammatory goodness to help soothe pain.

Gentle Movement

• Try yoga, resistance bands, or aquatic therapy. Focus on mobility, not intensity.

Stress reduction

• Practice breathwork, meditation, or journaling. Lowering cortisol helps reduce stress and improve sleep.

Hydration and Supplement

• Hydration and magnesium support muscle and connective tissue health. Magnesium supplements offer a gentle, natural way to reduce inflammation and support joint health.

FAQs

Can frozen shoulder be prevented?

While not entirely preventable, you can reduce your risk by:

-Supporting hormonal health through nutrition and movement

-Staying physically active and maintaining shoulder mobility

-Managing stress and sleep quality

Is it related to posture and inactivity?

It can be. Poor posture and sedentary lifestyle, especially during midlife transitions, may contribute to shoulder stiffness. But frozen shoulder is primarily inflammatory, not just mechanical. So, movement alone isn’t always enough.

This means that the problem starts deep within the joint capsule, where menopausal hormonal shifts, stress, and other factors trigger inflammation. Inflammation then encourages excess collagen to accumulate, resulting in the gradual thickening and tightening of the shoulder capsule.

The result? Pain. Healing requires a layered approach: addressing hormonal imbalances, reducing inflammation, and gently restoring mobility.

Source: Medical News Today

Does menopause increase risk for other joint issues?

Definitely. Declining estrogen is linked to osteoarthritis, tendon stiffness, bursitis, and other joint concerns.

Hormone balance, proper nutrition, and movement are essential for joint health.

You Deserve Holistic Support 🌿

If you’re dealing with frozen shoulder in menopause, you’re not meant to carry this on your own. As a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and Menopause Health Coach, I guide women through midlife transitions with grounded expertise and personalized care.

Together, we will create a plan that supports your hormones, eases joint pain, and helps you feel strong and mobile again, naturally.

Book a free call today through my calendar and start feeling the shift.