Can perimenopause cause joint stiffness?
Yes. Perimenopause can cause joint stiffness.
As estrogen starts fluctuating and dropping, your joints lose some of estrogen’s protective effect, which can leave them feeling stiffer, achier, or more inflamed. Here at Alloy, we talk about this as part of the musculoskeletal changes of menopause. It often shows up in the knees, hips, shoulders, hands, wrists, and fingers, and it’s commonly worst first thing in the morning, then eases a bit once you’ve been moving around.
A few things can help, including staying active, choosing lower-impact movement when needed, doing resistance training, getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, and eating more anti-inflammatory foods. Menopausal hormone therapy is considered a standard treatment for menopause-related joint pain because it addresses the hormonal driver. You can read more in our joint pain article, our painful joints symptom guide, and our treatment options page. If a joint is swollen, red, warm, or very tender, that should be checked by a doctor promptly.
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