menopause, fascia & osteopathy
Menopause & Fascia
While diving into the latest fascia research and chronic pain studies, one recurring thread kept emerging—estrogen’s role in connective tissue health. It struck me that menopause isn’t just a hormonal shift; it’s an entire fascial reorganization. When I realized that much of the discomfort women feel during this time is rooted in those changes, I knew my work could help.
Women start the menopause transition, on average, between the ages 45- 55 with perimenopause starting up to ten years prior, or not really at all. Each woman seems to have a different set of symptoms and experiences that range quite drastically, just like our menstruation.
During the menopausal transition, the body’s production of estrogen and relaxin decline rapidly and remain low. These hormones directly influence fascial & connective tissue integrity, muscle regeneration, blood vessel flexibility, and inflammation control.
Estrogen interacts with fibroblasts through hormone receptors to regulate collagen production. When estrogen drops, the balance of collagen types changes—collagen I (denser) decreases and collagen III (more elastic) also decreases—leading to stiffer, less pliable, more unstable joints and fascia. This can cause myofascial pain, restricted movement, and slower healing. This change in our fascia, joints and other connective tissues is why you suddenly feel unstable and stiffer at the same time.
Emerging fascia research shows that estrogen and relaxin aren’t just reproductive hormones—they’re deeply involved in maintaining flexibility, blood flow, and pain regulation throughout the fascia that surrounds every muscle, organ, and nerve. As these hormone levels fall, fascia can become denser, stiffer, and more pain-sensitive.
Up to 70–80% of women experience new or worsened joint or muscle pain during perimenopause. These symptoms, now recognized as part of the “Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (MSM)”, include stiffness, joint inflammation, tendon discomfort, and an increased risk of frozen shoulder, bursitis, or tendonitis.
Fascia connects into the visceral framework and vascular tissues. Estrogen loss can influence abdominal and pelvic fascia tone, blood flow, and venous/lymphatic drainage, contributing to sensations like abdominal tightness, bloating, or pelvic floor dysfunction including that new rushed feeling of increased urgency!
Why Manual Osteopathy & Chi Nei Tsang ?
Manual osteopathy and Chi Nei Tsang are grounded in this understanding: that gentle, slow, intentional touch supports both the fascial and emotional adjustments every woman navigates through this transition.
Manual osteopathy and visceral techniques aim to:
Restore fluid and elasticity to fascia
Improve joint and muscle balance for pain relief
Support lymphatic circulation and general relaxation
Support visceral changes to digestion including GERD, bladder changes like leakage and urgency and general pelvic heaviness
Chi Nei Tsang to explore the changes in our qi and emotional digestion
Give you the supportive, compassionate time and space to feel your body. Space to digest all the physical & emotional changes you’re experiencing
If you’re looking for a manual therapist who provides holistic body-work and compassionate care as you move through this transition and beyond— you’ve found me!
Please click below to book an appointment or reach out if you have any questions!
SOURCES
Wright V., Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopause (2024)hingehealth
Pierko P., Menopause-Related Musculoskeletal Pain (Loyola Medicine, 2025)loyolamedicine
City Osteopaths (NZ, 2024) Managing Menopause with Osteopathy: More Than Just Hot Flashescityosteopaths
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/menopause/what-menopause
Osteopathic Research, Effectiveness of Osteopathic Treatment in Perimenopause (1991, Academy of Physical Medicine)academyofphysicalmedicine
Yarra Valley Women’s Health (2024) Menopause and the Pelvic Floor and How Osteopathy Can Helpyarravalleywomenshealth
Fascia Hub (2021) Menopause and Fasciathefasciahub
Hinge Health (2024) Musculoskeletal Syndrome of Menopausehingehealth
PMC (2024) Fascia as a Regulatory System in Health and Diseasepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih
Thujawellness (2024) How Osteopathy Helps Balance Your Hormonesthujawellness