Menopausal stiff shoulders and stiff neck are terrible! Massage, Stretch Relief & Herbal Medicine

Are you suffering from stiff shoulders and stiff neck during menopause? If you continue to have severe stiff shoulders and neck, you will find it difficult to do housework and work.

This article is for those who want to know specific ways to relieve stiff shoulders and neck during menopause. Here's what you'll find out: Please use it as a reference for how to relieve stiff shoulders and stiff neck.

• What is menopause?
• Causes of menopausal neck and shoulder pain
• 4 ways to get rid of stiff shoulders and neck pain

What is menopause

"Menopause" is generally referred to as a total of 10 years, 5 years before and after menopause .

The average age of menopause in Japanese women is said to be about 50 years old, and the function of the ovaries gradually declines during menopause. In the process of its decline, menstruation often becomes irregular, and menopause occurs, in which there is no menstruation for one year after the last menstrual period.

During menopause, female hormones fluctuate and decline, and many women experience mental and physical disorders. These mental and physical disorders are called “menopausal symptoms,” and they show various symptoms such as hot flashes, sudden sweats, headaches, dizziness, irritation, and emotional instability.

Causes of neck and shoulder pain during menopause

Neck and shoulder pain are one of the symptoms of menopause. The cause is thought to be a fluctuating drop in female hormones and the associated disturbance of the autonomic nervous system.

Autonomic nerves are nerves that work autonomously throughout the body, such as the heart and internal organs, to keep the body normal. There are two types of autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic nervous system, which controls excitement, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls rest.

When the balance of this autonomic nerve collapses and the function of the sympathetic nerve becomes dominant, blood vessels and nerves become tense. As a result, poor blood flow and tense muscles are thought to cause stiff shoulders.

Read the following articles together
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How to get rid of menopausal neck and shoulder pain

Menopausal stiff shoulders and neck are said to be caused by deterioration of blood flow and muscle tension due to disturbance of the autonomic nerves. Therefore, in order to relieve stiff shoulders and neck, it is important to improve blood circulation and relieve muscle tension . Here are 4 ways to deal with stiff shoulders and neck during menopause.

·Massage
・Push points ・Warm the body ・Chinese medicine

Relax your shoulders and neck with a massage

There are ways to relax your shoulders and neck by going to a chiropractor or salon, or by self-massaging . When it comes to dealing with stiff shoulders and necks, many people probably think of massage. As you can imagine, massage improves the blood flow in the neck and shoulders and loosens the muscles, so it is expected to relieve shoulder and neck stiffness.

Chiropractic and salons have the advantage of being able to loosen areas that are difficult to massage by yourself. In addition, it is recommended that it is a massage that has a relaxing effect, as it will be refreshing. Also, if you do it yourself, why not try a simple massage method or use a home-use neck massager?

Stimulate lymph by pressing pressure points

It is said that pressing pressure points in places where blood flow is poor improves blood circulation and is good for relieving stiff shoulders .

According to Oriental medicine, there are hundreds of pressure points along the way for qi and blood to flow throughout the body, and when this flow is disturbed, it causes stiffness.

Acupuncture points are said to be effective even if you just stretch the path where blood and energy flow where the points are located. Also, if you move the muscles around it at the same time as pressing the points, the flow of lymph will improve, so be conscious of stretching.

Relieve fatigue and warm the body

In order to improve the blood flow that causes stiff shoulders, let's warm up the body by soaking in the bathtub slowly and get rid of the fatigue of the whole body.

In general, it is said that it is good to warm the body to improve blood flow. It is also thought that the disturbance of the autonomic nervous system comes from stress. Therefore, let's get into the habit of slowly soaking in the bathtub to relax.

Use your favorite bath salts and create a relaxing time to relieve the fatigue and stiff shoulders of the day.

Visit a hospital and get herbal medicine

If you have severe stiff shoulders and neck due to menopause and it interferes with your daily life, consider visiting an orthopedic surgeon or a gynecologist.

If the symptoms of menopause interfere with daily life and are not caused by other illnesses, there is a possibility of menopause. In the treatment of menopausal disorders, herbal medicines may be used according to individual constitution and symptoms. For example, Kakkonto is sometimes prescribed for stiff shoulders1).

Also, self-medication of supplements and over-the-counter drugs is one way. However, if the symptoms are severe or do not improve after taking the medicine, see a doctor.

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summary

In this article, we will tell you about the causes of stiff shoulders and neck that occur during menopause and 4 ways to deal with them. The points are summarized below.

• Menopause is the 10 years before and after menopause, and one of the symptoms of menopause is stiff shoulders and stiff neck.
• Disturbance of the autonomic nervous system is thought to be the cause of stiff shoulders and neck during menopause.
• In order to relieve stiff shoulders and neck, it is important to improve blood circulation and relieve muscle tension.
• There are coping methods such as massage, pressure points, warming the body, and herbal medicine.

There are several self-medication methods for menopausal stiff shoulders and neck. However, in severe cases, appropriate medical treatment may be required.

Find a coping method that suits you and live well with menopause.

References

1) Tsumura Co., Ltd. Tsumura Konto extract granules (medical use).2007 https://www.info.pmda.go.jp/go/pack/5200013D1123_1_12/