Musculoskeletal Consequences of Menopause

Date Posted:

June 2026

Study Title:

The musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause

Authors:

Wright VJ, Schwartzman JD, Itinoche R, & Wittstein J

 

Recently, I have received many requests for information about the impact of menopause on musculoskeletal symptoms in women…this week’s review is a broad introduction to this topic and is freely available to non-subscribers until the end of June.

Menopause is often discussed in terms of hot flashes and sleep disturbance, but this week’s review highlights a less recognized issue: the musculoskeletal effects of estrogen loss. The concept of a “musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause” helps explain why many women experience new or worsening joint pain, tendon problems, muscle loss, reduced bone density, and even fractures during the menopausal transition. For chiropractors, this matters because many of these patients present first with nonspecific MSK complaints, often without obvious structural findings, and may benefit from a broader conversation about prevention, exercise, screening, nutrition, and the potential role of menopausal hormone therapy.