A Bright perspective on menopause: Chiropractors can help manage the symptom chaos!
Anyone who has gone through menopause or is currently going through it knows this can be a chaotic time for the body and mind. Menopause marks the end of a female’s lifetime of menses. On average, women reach menopause by the age of 51, after being period-free for 12-months. Peri-menopause – the length of time where your body is transitioning out of regular menses and into menopause – can last up to 4 years with a range of symptoms, from completely asymptomatic to those experienced during menopause, including body aches and pains. As leaders in musculoskeletal (MSK) health, chiropractors are well-positioned to address the muscle, joint, and ligament complaints that can come with peri-menopause and menopause.
As your hormones fluctuate to reach their new norm in menopause, you may be experiencing a chaos of symptoms that you may not have known are related! Research shows that being in peri-menopause or menopause may be an independent risk factor for moderate to severe joint and ligamentous complaints due to the role of estrogen and other hormones. One such hormone that decreases as you enter menopause is estrogen. You may have heard of this before, but did you know many studies have found that estrogen levels are related to ligamentous laxity? This means that as your estrogen levels decrease during and around menopause, your ligaments may be more prone to injuries. As evidence-based chiropractors, the Bright Health Co. team is able to use our expertise to create an exercise plan centred around you – your goals, lifestyle, and hobbies. Strengthening your muscles to prevent ligament injuries doesn’t mean you need to start weight lifting with a personal trainer every day. There are many effective ways to progressively strengthen your muscles with activities you enjoy as part of your daily routine, and we are here to help determine the best plan for you.
Common peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms are listed below, along with information about how chiropractic care can help:
Symptom(s) —> What your chiropractor can do for you
Irregular menses —> Educate you on and help monitor for signs or symptoms that may be abnormal to peri-menopause; treat associated muscle, joint, and nerve-related complaints related to your menses
Hot flashes & night sweats —> Education on the physiology of hot flashes and ways to help manage the heat at home and in the workplace; screen for other causes of hot flashes and/or night sweats that may not be related to the natural course of menopause
Mood fluctuations & sleep difficulties —> Use lifestyle strategies to help address common reasons for mood fluctuations and how to stabilize them where possible; Address and treat any muscle, joint, and nerve-related complaints and/or pain that may be causing sleep or mood irregularities; Screen for other causes of mood fluctuations and/or sleep disturbances and with the patient’s consent, refer to an alternate healthcare provider for other specialized care if needed
Weight gain —>Use progressive exercise strategies tailored to your preferences, hobbies, and schedule to help manage weight gain; Address and treat any muscle, joint, and nerve-related complaints and/or pain associated with weight gain; Provide nutritional counselling tailored to your preferences, lifestyle, and eating habits to manage weight gain; Screen for other causes of weight gain that may not be related to the natural course of menopause
Headaches —> Address and treat any muscle, joint, and nerve-related complaints and/or pain that is causing or associated with headaches; Use strategies to identify behavioral, nutritional, or lifestyle factors that trigger or influence the frequency of headaches; Screen for other causes of headaches that may not be related to the natural course of menopause
Muscle and/or joint aches —> Identify, diagnose, and treat related muscle and/or joint complaints; Develop progressive rehabilitation and self-care strategies to minimize muscle and joint complaints going forward; Screen for other causes of muscle and/or joint complaints that may not be related to the natural course of menopause
As a family-based practice with a focus on female health, Bright Health Co. professionals are here to address your physical complaints, provide education, and help monitor your health as it changes over time. We are committed to making your entire health picture our priority and collaborating with others, such as your doctor, specialist, physiotherapist, and/or nutritionist, to be an integrated part of your healthcare team. We look forward to providing you a bright approach to your health!
WRITTEN BY: DR. KARISHMA KAPOOR, DC
Disclaimer
The advice provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is meant to augment and not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Consultation with a chiropractor or other primary care provider is recommended for anyone suffering from a health problem.