Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause

Written by: Dr Fiona Lovely, DC

Many women are arriving in clinic with complaints of stiffness, sore, achey muscles and joints without experiencing this previously.  These women tend to be 40+ in age and lack an injury to cause the discomfort.  It’s important to consider how your hormones at midlife may be affecting your body.  

Menopause is not only characterized by hormonal changes and reproductive system adjustments but also by various musculoskeletal symptoms that can significantly impact a woman's quality of life. This is called the Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (MSM).  This encompasses a range of symptoms affecting the bones, joints, and muscles, which can be attributed to hormonal fluctuations.  

One of the most common musculoskeletal symptoms experienced during menopause is osteopenia and osteoporosis, a condition characterized by decreased bone density and increased risk of fractures. Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health by inhibiting bone resorption and promoting bone formation. However, during menopause, declining estrogen levels lead to accelerated bone loss, especially in weight-bearing bones like the spine, hips, and wrists.

Menopausal women frequently report joint pain and stiffness, commonly attributed to osteoarthritis. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory properties that help protect joint cartilage and maintain joint function. As estrogen levels decline, inflammation increases, contributing to the development and progression of osteoarthritis, particularly in weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips.

I like to say that estrogen is a lubricator of all tissues, this is especially true with joints.  For example: I see many women in their 40’s and 50’s with new shoulder complaints which can be attributed to the estrogen decline.  The shoulder is the most freely moveable joint in the body and when it isn’t working well, you notice!

Muscle weakness and decreased muscle mass, known as sarcopenia, are also prevalent musculoskeletal symptoms of menopause. Estrogen has anabolic effects on skeletal muscle, promoting muscle growth and strength. Declining estrogen levels during menopause can accelerate muscle loss and impair muscle function, leading to decreased mobility, flexibility and function.

Menopause-associated hormonal changes can trigger new onset musculoskeletal symptoms, including tendonitis and bursitis.

Understanding the musculoskeletal implications of menopause is crucial for implementing preventive measures, such as regular weight-bearing exercise, maintaining flexibility with daily stretching, keeping your spine healthy with regular chiropractic treatments, adequate magnesium glycinate and vitamin D intake, and hormonal therapy when appropriate, to mitigate the impact of these symptoms and promote musculoskeletal health and well-being in menopausal women.

Dr. Fiona Lovely is a Chiropractor at AST Willow Park and can help you with your perimenopause and menopause-related concerns. In addition to her practice at Active Sports Therapy Dr. Fiona Lovely is the host of the wildly popular podcast "Not Your Mother's Menopause" which can be found on all of your favourite podcast platforms.

Treating Piriformis Syndrome

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]By: Dr. Corey Finan BSc., DC, CCSP, RMT, ART

In order to properly treat piriformis syndrome, it is important to understand that the piriformis muscle is either spasming, or is inflamed.  Both situations can cause their own problems.  If you are getting numbness down your leg, the muscle is probably spasmed.  A spasmed muscle can cause local pain as well, so hip pain with numbness down the leg is a very common presentation of piriformis syndrome.  An inflamed muscle will cause the sciatic nerve that sits in close proximity to it to also get inflamed in some cases.  When this occurs, you will typically feel pain in the hip along with a burning pain radiating down your leg.

Understanding which situation is causing your particular symptoms can allow your practitioner to accurately treat it.  For example, a spasmed muscle will require work on the muscle to relax it, and techniques such as Active Release, Shockwave Therapy (in chronic cases), deep tissue massage and even Dry Needling (IMS) can help.  These all work to relax the spasm.  Home stretching would also be of benefit.

Active Release Techniques or ART is the gold standard for soft tissue treatment and is extremely effective at treating piriformis syndrome.  The practitioner starts with your muscle in a shortened position, and your leg is then moved to bring the muscle into a lengthened position while the doctor’s thumb tensions the muscle in the direction opposite to the muscle.  Think of a string with beads on it.  If you want to remove the beads, you would place your thumb beside the bead, and pull on the string.  The shear force generated unwinds the tightened muscle, causing the release of tension.  Hence the name Active Release.

Shockwave Therapy utilizes a compressive pulse of air that generates a shockwave to disrupt the muscle and create a release of tension.  It is the equivalent to about 5 times a normal ultrasound wave.  Thus it is a significant pulse created into the soft tissues of the hip to cause the spasm to decrease.  It is great for chronic conditions, but is ineffective for new injuries.

Dry needling can be used to release the spasm from the inside out.  Using an acupuncture needle, the practitioner can insert the needle right into the spasmed part of the muscle causing a local twitch response that in effect resets the electrical tone of the muscle back to the baseline, causing a release in the muscle tension.  It can be fast and effective, but it does not lengthen the muscle like Active Release does, so you run the risk of the spasm coming back again.

Deep tissue massage is great at releasing muscle spasms through active massaging of the affected muscle, and if a stretch component is added by the therapist it can be very effective.  It is considered a passive treatment, and unfortunately if the muscle is not also lengthened, then the same results as dry needling can occur where the spasm recurs.

If the muscle is inflamed, then things change somewhat in regards to care.  First and foremost, Active Release can still be performed to help release the muscle tightness or inflammation, and cause increased blood flow, oxygen flow and create and environment for healing.  On top of active release, low intensity laser can be extremely helpful in reducing the inflammation.  If it is badly inflamed, we can also bring in the game ready ice compression machine which will circulate near freezing water through a compressive cuff (similar to a blood pressure cuff) and cool down the hip muscles removing deep and/or plentiful inflammation.

Any and all of the following treatments for Piriformis Syndrome can be found at AST.  If you are suffering from piriformis syndrome quit suffering and give us a call.

*This blog is not intended to officially establish a physician-patient relationship, to replace the services of a trained physician, naturopathic doctor, physical therapist or chiropractor or otherwise to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

5 Surprising Benefits of Regular Massage Therapy

[vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][vc_column_text]The first thing most people think of when you talk about massage therapy is relaxation. While this is absolutely a benefit of getting a massage, there are many more reasons that might surprise you. At Active Sports Therapy we recommend that everyone makes time for a monthly massage because it has immediate positive effects on the individual, as well as cumulative long-term benefits.

Eases Muscle Pain

If your muscles are sore, then massage can really help you. Having a massage increases and improves your circulation. Increased circulation can bring much needed blood flow to stiff and tense muscles to help promote healing, range of motion, and flexibility. The different techniques used in massage therapy can also reduce the amount of lactic acid in the muscle tissues and improve lymph fluid circulation.

Helps with Anxiety and Depression

Massage therapy has been shown to increase serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters which can help reduce feelings of anxiety and sadness. Human contact is important for people who suffer from anxiety and a nurturing touch via massage therapy is just that.

Gives Your Immune System a Boost

We know that people who are prone to stress are also prone to sickness and illness. With a regular massage you may see a reduction in stress and studies show that the body can often experience a boost in your systems ability to get and stay well post-massage. This is due to the increase in the activity level of the body’s white blood cells that can help a person fight off illness.

Assists with Headache Management

Many people, especially in our city, suffer from headaches and migraine headaches. Although everyone’s headache triggers are different, stress, muscle tension, and poor sleep are among the top triggers. With the effects of a massage sometimes lasting for weeks, people with frequent headaches should seek regular massages as each of the above triggers can be addressed in a session.

Reduces Blood Pressure

It has been found that regular visits to a massage therapist can indeed reduce blood pressure levels. Other studies have also cited a reduction in cortisol, which is better known as the body’s stress hormone that often leads to multiple health issues when it is in excess.

Please speak to your health care provider to find out if massage therapy is right for you. At Active Sports Therapy our Registered Massage Therapists can provide a variety of different methods, techniques, and styles of massage. We are sue to have the right therapist to address your concern.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]