@drwendy_physicaltherapy: Did you know your rotator cuff tendons have estrogen and progesterone receptors? Let's talk about why this matters during perimenopause and menopause. Estrogen plays a role in the health of your muscles, tendons, and connective tissues. Here's what I love to think about: 1. Your rotator cuff tendons have estrogen AND progesterone receptors. This suggests that these tissues may respond to changes in hormone levels. 2. Estrogen does in fact influence collagen metabolism. Collagen is a major structural component of tendons, and estrogen signaling may influence tendon remodeling and mechanical properties. Also, how the estrogen receptors express themselves in premenopause versus postmenopause is different. 3. During perimenopause, estrogen fluctuates, and I that my friend is why I think perimenopause is whack-a-doodle time for tendons. Researchers are investigating how these hormonal changes may affect tendon health, although we don't yet know exactly how fluctuations influence rotator cuff symptoms. We do know that tendons don’t like hormone fluctuations, exhibit A: puberty. Exhibit B: postpartum 4. Now during menopause estrogen does decline, and when you reach menopause it’s looooow. Lower estrogen may be one factor contributing to changes in tendon health and repair, but age, mechanical loading, and metabolic health also matter. I just want women to know what’s happening. We can make better choices if we understand. So, if you're in your 40s or 50s and suddenly experiencing shoulder pain, it's worth understanding that your hormones may be part of the bigger picture. But here's what I want you to remember: Your tendons still need appropriate mechanical loading. Progressive resistance training remains an important part of maintaining tendon and muscle health. We're still learning how hormones influence our musculoskeletal system throughout the menopause transition. Longo UG, et al. (2021). The role of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the rotator cuff disease: a retrospective cohort study. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. PMID: 34670550

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Saturday 31 October 2026 16:00:00 GMT