New term for musculoskeletal symptoms during menopause

Investigators have proposed the use of the term “musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause” to describe the collection of musculoskeletal symptoms experienced by women during the menopausal transition.

In a review article, published in Climacteric, the investigators found that more than 70% of women may experience musculoskeletal symptoms such as joint inflammation, arthralgia, sarcopenia, loss of muscle regenerative capacity, reduced bone density, osteoarthritis progression and cartilage damage during the transition from perimenopause to postmenopause. Further, estrogen deficiency was linked to increased fragility and a risk of fracture in about 30% to 50% of women.

To mitigate these effects, the investigators suggested preventive treatments, including proper nutrition, vitamin D and K and magnesium supplementation, resistance exercise and menopausal hormone therapy.

The investigators argued that the term may allow clinicians to communicate the role of declining estrogen levels in the development of musculoskeletal symptoms and guide preventive treatments.

Read more: Climacteric

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