Understanding Menopause
Peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause are natural transitional phases, accompanied by hormonal changes that can affect the body in multiple ways: muscular stiffness, lower back or hip discomfort, thoracic tension, changes in sleep or balance. These signs are neither imaginary nor exaggerated — they are physiological responses from a body in transformation.1 Many women ask themselves: ‘What is happening to me?’ The answer is straightforward: your body is adapting, and it can benefit from specialist support to make that transition with greater comfort and awareness.
How Manual Therapy Can Help
As oestrogen levels decline, it is common to feel that tissues lose hydration and elasticity.23 Manual therapy — through gentle massage techniques, joint mobilisation and approaches such as diaphragmatic or sacro-cranial work — can help restore movement and relieve tension. The goal is not to “eliminate” stiffness (which is part of this process), but to improve your capacity for movement and day-to-day wellbeing.
Beyond physical relief, many women report that these techniques — especially those working with breathing and the nervous system — bring a sense of calm and reconnection with the body. This is not psychological therapy, but conscious touch and individual attention can provide a space of attentive listening to what your body is experiencing.
Specific Benefits
- Reduction of stiffness and tension: Works on tissue elasticity and joint mobility.
- Improved posture and mobility: Helps you adapt to changes in balance and posture.
- Indirect emotional support: Techniques such as diaphragmatic and sacro-cranial work can promote relaxation and wellbeing.
- Body awareness: Helps you recognise and manage the body’s new limits and possibilities.
Why It Works
Manual therapy does not “fix” menopause — this is, after all, a natural phase of life. But it can help the body adapt more fluidly. By working on mobility, posture and muscle tension, the aim is for you to feel more at ease in your body, with less discomfort and greater awareness of your limits and possibilities. Studies such as those by EspÃrito Santo et al. (2021)1 show that interventions of this kind improve balance and functional mobility — especially when combined with simple self-care habits.
Small Daily Steps
To enhance the effects of manual therapy, small gestures make a real difference:
- Gentle stretches (e.g. rolling the shoulders or lifting the arms above the head on waking).
- Diaphragmatic breathing (breathing in deeply, expanding the belly, and breathing out slowly — it helps calm the nervous system).
- Conscious posture (avoiding staying in the same position for too long, especially when working or using a phone).
- Hydration and movement (walking, swimming or dancing, according to your energy levels).
There is no need to do everything at once. Choose one or two habits and notice how your body responds.
What Is Happening to Your Body
Many women come to the clinic with the same question: ‘Why doesn’t my body respond the way it used to?’ The answer lies in the hormonal changes, which affect not only the reproductive organs but also muscles, joints, fascia and even the nervous system.23 It is not “in your head” — it is biology. And, as such, it can be addressed with appropriate techniques.
Additional studies, such as those by Leranth et al. (2000)4 and Nicholson et al. (2020)5, also highlight the role of oestrogen in neurological and muscular health — reinforcing the importance of integrated approaches during menopause.
Conclusion
Manual therapy does not replace medical care, but it can be a valuable complement during this phase. If you feel that your body needs support adapting to the changes of menopause, an assessment session can help identify the most appropriate techniques for your case. The goal is not to promise miraculous results, but to offer tools so that you feel more confident, informed and supported in this transition.
Book your session or contact me directly to clarify any questions.
References
EspÃrito Santo, J. et al. (2021). Menopausal symptoms, postural balance, and functional mobility in middle-aged postmenopausal women. DOI:10.3390/diagnostics11122178 ↩︎ ↩︎
Lee, H. R. et al. (2012). Functions and physiological roles of two types of estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ. DOI:10.5625/lar.2012.28.2.71 ↩︎ ↩︎
Paterni, I. et al. (2014). Estrogen receptors alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ): Subtype-selective ligands and clinical potential. DOI:10.1016/j.steroids.2014.06.012 ↩︎ ↩︎
Leranth, C., Roth, R. H., Elsworth, J. D., Naftolin, F., Horvath, T. L., & Redmond, D. E., Jr. (2000). Estrogen is essential for maintaining nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in primates: Implications for Parkinson’s disease and memory. J Neurosci, 20(23), 8604–8609. DOI:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-23-08604.2000 ↩︎
Nicholson, K., MacLusky, N. J., & Leranth, C. (2020). Synaptic effects of estrogen. Vitamins & Hormones, 114, 167–210. DOI:10.1016/bs.vh.2020.06.002 ↩︎