Attribution: Image by Freepik
Medically Reviewed by Andrea Caamano, Director of Medical Affairs, The HRT Club
If you’ve ever dealt with nagging shoulder stiffness that seems to come out of nowhere and just won’t quit, you’re not alone. For many women over 40—especially those going through or past menopause—frozen shoulder can become an unexpected and frustrating part of aging. But new research from Duke Health offers a glimmer of hope: hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might help prevent this painful condition.
What Is Frozen Shoulder?
Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is exactly what it sounds like. The shoulder joint becomes stiff, painful, and loses its full range of motion, making simple tasks—like reaching for something on a high shelf or fastening a bra strap—feel nearly impossible. The condition can last for months or even years, and it’s notoriously difficult to treat once it takes hold.
The interesting part? It tends to strike more often in women than men, especially between the ages of 40 and 60. And that led Duke researchers to wonder: could hormonal changes during menopause be playing a role?
Estrogen’s Unexpected Role in Joint Health
Turns out, estrogen does a lot more than just regulate the reproductive system. It’s also involved in keeping bones strong, managing inflammation, and supporting the connective tissues that hold our joints together. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, that protective effect starts to wear off—which could be why some women are more prone to issues like frozen shoulder as they age.
So, the team at Duke dug into the medical records of nearly 2,000 post-menopausal women experiencing shoulder pain. Their findings? Women who were on HRT were less likely to be diagnosed with frozen shoulder—only about half compared to those who weren’t on HRT. While the results didn’t reach the threshold of statistical significance, the trend is hard to ignore.
“At MyMenopauseRx, we’re seeing more women reporting joint stiffness and shoulder pain during the menopausal transition. While hot flashes and sleep issues get most of the attention, musculoskeletal symptoms are real and can impact quality of life. This research highlights yet another way hormone therapy may support overall wellness—not just for symptom relief, but potentially for joint health too.”— Dr. Barbra Hanna, OB/GYN, Menopause Society Certified Practitioner and founder of MyMenopauseRx
How Hormone Therapy Might Help
Other studies back this up, suggesting that estrogen may decrease inflammation and reduce fibrosis (thickening and scarring of tissue) in the shoulder joint. One theory is that estrogen influences a pathway in the body that regulates how much scar tissue forms. Less scar tissue means more movement and less pain.
A Promising Step, But More Research Needed
For women already considering HRT treatments to help manage hot flashes, night sweats, or bone density loss, this could be one more potential benefit to discuss with their doctor. If you’re already navigating menopause and struggling with shoulder pain, it might be worth bringing up during your next appointment.
The takeaway? Your hormones and your joints are more connected than you might think—and hormone therapy could be a helpful piece of the puzzle for some women.
