Frozen shoulder – pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint that can take one to three years to fully resolve – is far more common in women, particularly in their 40s and 50s. This has led researchers to ask whether menopause might play a role. Estrogen affects connective tissue and inflammation throughout the body, so it’s a reasonable question – but the link hasn’t yet been well studied, and a suspected connection isn’t the same as a proven one.
Run by the University of Nottingham and funded by Wellbeing of Women, the MENO-FROST study is exploring whether menopausal stage and type (natural, surgical or medical) are associated with frozen shoulder in women.
Who can take part? Women who currently have, or have previously had, frozen shoulder.
What’s involved? An anonymous online questionnaire (15-20 minutes) covering shoulder symptoms, menopause status, menopause symptoms, physical activity and general wellbeing.
Confidential and voluntary. You won’t be asked to identify yourself, responses are anonymous, and you can exit at any point before submitting – your answers simply won’t be saved.
Read the full Participant Information Sheet before deciding, or contact the research team: Natalie Shur, mbznfs@nottingham.ac.uk.
Some questions cover mood and wellbeing, which you may find difficult. If you’re experiencing severe anxiety or depression, or thoughts of harming yourself, please contact your GP or local mental health services urgently. Support is also available from Samaritans (116 123, samaritans.org, 24/7), The Menopause Charity (themenopausecharity.org) and Women’s Health Concern (womens-health-concern.org). This study has ethical approval.
Frozen shoulder is common, disruptive, and poorly understood in relation to hormonal health. Studies like this help build the evidence base clinicians rely on – and taking part is one of the most direct ways women can help close that gap. Women’s Health Concern, the patient-facing arm of the British Menopause Society, supports research that builds a clearer picture of menopause and its wider effects on the body.