What Is Frozen Shoulder, and Why Does It Affect Many Women in Midlife?

Frozen shoulder, a painful stiffening of the shoulder joint, affects women more often than men, and experts believe menopause may be part of the reason why.

It’s a condition experts don’t fully understand, but frozen shoulder affects many adult women, and if you’re one of them, here’s what you need to know.

As the name implies, frozen shoulder, scientifically known as adhesive capsulitis, is characterized by a stiff or “frozen” shoulder. This results in the loss of the shoulder’s normal range of motion, and it can be painful.

Why does this happen? Simply put, when the tissue around the shoulder swells, it thickens and scars over time, which makes it harder to move the shoulder normally.

Women are more prone to the condition than men, especially women over 40, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and up to 5 percent of the population will be affected.

The condition typically develops in three stages: (1) the "freezing" stage characterized by increasing stiffness and discomfort, (2) the "frozen" stage where the pain may decrease but the stiffness worsens, and (3) the "thawing" stage where range of motion gradually returns.

A frozen shoulder can last anywhere between 18 and 24 months, and in some cases, even longer. Experts cannot pinpoint a cause, but they believe it has something to do with inflammation. It can be a result of the shoulder not being used much during recovery after an injury or surgery, or it may also be linked to conditions such as hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes.

Researchers also believe menopause plays a role, seeing that most women affected by a frozen shoulder are in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. A decrease in estrogen during menopause can affect collagen and inflammation, which may in turn increase the chances of developing a frozen shoulder.

On how to reduce the risk, there is some research pointing to hormone replacement therapy, though it’s nothing conclusive. Treatment may include physical therapy, as well as medication or injections, but this may take months to show any improvement.

If you’re experiencing the symptoms of a frozen shoulder, seeing a doctor early for prompt treatment is advised.