Tendinopathies in physically active post-menopausal women: a concise review

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal health
• Endocrinology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Menopause leads to decreased estrogen, impacting musculoskeletal tissues like bone and cartilage.
• Reduced estrogen diminishes tendon tensile strength, raising tendinopathy risk in peri- and post-menopausal women.
• Tendinopathy hinders physical activity due to pain and impaired tendon function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review tendinopathy pathophysiology in active, menopausal women.
• To evaluate evidence for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in tendinopathy prevention/management.
• To identify future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of pathophysiology and HRT effects.
• Appraisal of existing studies on HRT and tendinopathy in active women.
• Synthesis of findings to inform recommendations.

Main Results:

• Estrogen decline is a key factor in menopausal tendinopathy.
• HRT shows potential for improving tendon health and function.
• Active women may benefit more from HRT for tendinopathy management.

Conclusions:

• Estrogen deficiency significantly contributes to tendinopathy in menopausal women.
• HRT is a promising therapeutic option for managing menopausal tendinopathies, especially in active individuals.
• Further research is crucial to optimize HRT protocols for tendinopathy in this demographic.