Frozen Shoulder and Menopause: What’s the Link?

Frozen shoulder is a condition in which your shoulder becomes stiff, painful, and unable to move. As the name implies, it “freezes” for a period of time. It’s also called adhesive capsulitis. 

Frozen shoulder is an inflammatory condition in which the joint capsule of the shoulder becomes stiff. Normally, your shoulder capsule is a fluid-filled sac that surrounds and lubricates the shoulder joint. When you have frozen shoulder the capsule loses fluid, thickens, and often develops adhesions. 

This condition is most likely to affect people during the years of menopause, usually between ages 40 to 60 years. So are the two related somehow? Let’s review the research. 

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Can menopause cause frozen shoulder?

Researchers say there’s no current evidence that directly links menopause and frozen shoulder. But it’s likely that changing hormones during menopause can put folks at risk. (More on this below.)

Still, experts aren’t sure exactly what causes frozen shoulder. But they’ve identified risk factors, which may make someone more susceptible to developing it. These risk factors include:

• Diabetes

• Thyroid disease

• Autoimmune diseases

• Prolonged shoulder immobilization, such as after injury or surgery

• Stroke 

• Parkinson’s disease

So, what’s the connection between frozen shoulder and menopause?

Menopause is the stage of life in which you no longer have a period. This occurs due to declining levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone. Low levels of estrogen cause many of the symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes and insomnia.

Declining levels of this hormone also affect other parts of your body. Estrogen is good for your joints, as it protects the cartilage, stimulates bone growth, and helps regulate inflammation. Experts believe there’s a link between inflammation and frozen shoulder. 

Some research supports the link between frozen shoulder and declining estrogen. For example, a 2023 study found that post-menopausal women who received hormone replacement therapy were less likely to be diagnosed with frozen shoulder compared with those who didn’t receive it. 

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• Menopause timeline: Learn more about the phases of menopause and how long they could last with this timeline. 

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Other aspects of menopause and their relationships with frozen shoulder have also intrigued researchers. For example:

• Menopause increases a woman’s risk of depression and anxiety. A 2023 study found that even though depression doesn’t seem to cause frozen shoulder, it can make the symptoms of pain and stiffness worse. 

• Insomnia is also very common during menopause. Researchers say that insomnia may put you at risk for developing shoulder conditions like frozen shoulder.

So it seems there are several moving pieces to this puzzle, and researchers are getting closer to putting it all together.

What are the symptoms of frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder usually affects only one arm, and it’s often the non-dominant side. Symptoms of frozen shoulder include:

• Shoulder pain

• Stiffness

• Limited ability to move your arm actively, especially rotating it out and in, and lifting it to the side

• Limited ability to move your arm passively (using your other arm to try to lift it)

Typically, frozen shoulder and its symptoms occur in three stages: 

1. Freezing: Frozen shoulder usually starts with shoulder pain. As the pain increases, your shoulder will also start to feel stiff. Lifting your arm out to the side or rotating it out can be difficult.

2. Frozen: In this stage, your shoulder will feel very stiff. Limitations in movement make it difficult to do everyday activities, like getting dressed, washing your hair, or driving. This stage can last for months.

3. Thawing: During the third stage of frozen shoulder, you will slowly start to regain motion and strength in your arm. 

What is the fastest way to get rid of a frozen shoulder?

Frozen shoulder requires patience. It usually takes 1 to 3 years to get back to normal. Some people can have ongoing symptoms, making treatment necessary.

There are several treatment options commonly used to help manage frozen shoulder.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 

Anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce pain and inflammation. These include: 

• Aspirin

• Ibuprofen (Advil)

• Naproxen (Aleve) 

Steroid injections 

Your healthcare professional can inject a corticosteroid into your shoulder. This has been found to decrease pain and improve range of motion for a short period of time, especially when combined with physical therapy (more on this below). 

Physical therapy 

A physical therapist (PT) can provide treatment to help improve pain, range of motion, and strength. A 2019 study found that a steroid injection combined with physical therapy showed the most improvement in pain and improved motion. But the timing, technique, and frequency of treatment are a bit controversial. For example, early therapy may be too painful to tolerate.

If physical therapy is part of your treatment plan, it will likely consist of:

• Stretches to improve range of motion

• Strengthening exercises to regain shoulder strength

• Hands-on stretching and shoulder mobilization

• Modalities such as moist heat, ice, TENS

Acupuncture 

Frozen shoulder can be very painful, especially in the first two stages. Acupuncture involves inserting thin needles at specific points in your body to stimulate a natural healing response. Limited research suggests acupuncture could help relieve the pain of frozen shoulder. 

Hydrodilatation 

In this procedure, your healthcare professional injects a solution of saline, local anesthetic, and sometimes a steroid into your shoulder joint. The mixture helps to stretch out the joint capsule, break up scar tissue, and reduce inflammation. Research suggests hydrodilatation can increase mobility and decrease pain when done early enough. 

Studies suggest that, in most cases, a combination of treatments works best. So it’s common for a shoulder specialist to recommend multiple treatment modalities at once. 

When should you see a healthcare professional about frozen shoulder during menopause? 

If you have pain, stiffness, and limited motion in your shoulder, it’s best to get an evaluation. Your primary care provider or specialist can examine you, rule out other causes of shoulder pain, and help you decide the best treatment plan. 

If you continue to have pain and reduced motion after 3 to 6 months of conservative treatment, you may need surgical treatment. This could consist of:

• Closed manipulation: This is also called manipulation under anesthesia. Your arm will be moved through its full range of motion to stretch the joint capsule and allow full movement. 

• Arthroscopic capsular release: Your surgeon will use small incisions to cut through tight portions of the joint capsule. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Kim Grundy, PT

Kim Grundy, PT, is a licensed physical therapist and an experienced writer and editor. She worked at an outpatient orthopedic facility, where she treated patients with chronic conditions and post-surgical athletes working towards recovery.

Edited by:

Lauren Savage, MA

Lauren Savage, MA, is a health editor at GoodRx, where she focuses on movement, exercise, and healthy aging. She aims to provide readers with the information they need to live healthier, more active lifestyles.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined her interests in clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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