Your Body Is Changing — Physiotherapy Can Help You Manage It
Specialist Menopause Care in Waterlooville
At The Physiotherapy Centre, we believe that women deserve specialist support during this transition. Menopause-related musculoskeletal conditions are treated here by Angela Goldstein, a chartered physiotherapist with specialist training in women’s health and menopause.
Angela provides a personalized, evidence-based approach that looks at the whole picture. We don’t just treat symptoms in isolation; we address the underlying musculoskeletal effects of your hormonal profile. We regularly support patients from across Waterlooville, Cosham, Havant, Petersfield, and Portsmouth who are looking to regain their strength, mobility, and confidence during and after the menopause.
Understanding How Menopause Affects Your Body
The Role of Oestrogen in Musculoskeletal Health
- Tendons become less resilient and slower to repair: This increases the risk of tendinopathies, particularly in the rotator cuff (shoulder), gluteal tendons (hip), and Achilles.
- Joints can become stiffer and more painful: Arthralgia (joint pain without visible inflammation) is one of the most commonly reported menopausal symptoms, yet it is frequently attributed to just getting older rather than recognised as a hormonal effect.
- Bones lose density more rapidly after menopause: This is due to reduced oestrogen mediated bone protection and increases the risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures, particularly in the spine, hip, and wrist.
- Muscles lose mass and strength (sarcopenia): This accelerates after menopause and contributes to reduced physical function, increased fall risk, and joint instability.
- Pelvic floor muscles weaken: Oestrogen dependent tissues in the pelvic region lose tone, contributing to urinary incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain.
Common Musculoskeletal Presentations During Menopause
- Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis): Women are significantly more likely to develop frozen shoulder during perimenopause and menopause. The condition can be bilateral and is strongly associated with hormonal change.
- Arthralgia and joint pain: Generalised aches and stiffness, particularly in the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Often worse in the morning and after inactivity.
- Tendinopathies: New or worsening tendon problems, including rotator cuff tendinopathy, gluteal tendinopathy (GTPS), lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow), and Achilles tendinopathy.
- Osteoporosis and reduced bone density: Increased fragility fracture risk, particularly if combined with other risk factors such as family history, low body weight, smoking, or long term corticosteroid use.
- Pelvic floor dysfunction: Stress incontinence, urgency, prolapse, and pelvic pain.
- Headaches: Changes in headache patterns, including new onset tension headaches or migraines, can occur during the menopausal transition.
- Sleep disturbance and fatigue: These can compound musculoskeletal symptoms and reduce recovery capacity.
How We Treat Menopause-Related Conditions
The Menopause MOT
For many women, the transition through menopause brings a cluster of physical changes that can feel overwhelming. Our Menopause MOT is a comprehensive, one-hour assessment designed to evaluate exactly how perimenopause or menopause is affecting your musculoskeletal system. Angela will screen your joints, tendons, bone health risk factors, and pelvic floor function, alongside your overall physical wellbeing. You will leave with a clear picture of which areas need attention and a tailored management plan to help you feel like yourself again.
Targeted Treatment for Specific Conditions
Whether you present with a specific condition like a frozen shoulder, gluteal tendinopathy (GTPS), or joint arthralgia, your treatment follows a specialized clinical pathway. We don’t treat these conditions in a vacuum; your plan specifically accounts for reduced tendon repair capacity, altered pain processing, and the tissue changes associated with lower oestrogen levels. By acknowledging the hormonal context, we can achieve far better outcomes than treating the symptoms in isolation.
Exercise Prescription for Bone and Muscle Health
Exercise is one of the most powerful “medicines” available during the menopause. Angela prescribes a programme specifically designed to counteract the physiological changes of this life stage. This includes resistance training to maintain muscle mass and stimulate bone density, weight-bearing exercises for bone health, and tendon-specific loading where needed. We also incorporate balance training and pelvic floor exercises, adapting every movement to your current fitness level, symptoms, and personal goals.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
If you are experiencing pelvic floor symptoms—such as changes in bladder control or a feeling of heaviness—our treatment follows a dedicated women’s health approach. This includes targeted pelvic floor muscle training and, where clinically indicated and with your full consent, an internal assessment. This allows us to ensure your exercises are being performed correctly and effectively to restore support and confidence.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your First Appointment: What to Expect
Practicalities for your visit:
- Clinical History: Angela will start with a detailed conversation about your menstrual and hormonal history, any HRT or medication use, and how your symptoms have evolved alongside your menopausal transition.
- Physical Assessment: The examination will focus on the areas most relevant to you—whether that is your joints, tendons, spine, pelvic floor, or a combination of these.
- What to bring: Please bring any recent blood test results, bone density (DEXA) scans, Vitamin D levels, or hormonal profiles if you have them available. This data helps us build a more accurate clinical picture.
- What to wear: Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that allows you to move easily. There is no other special preparation required.
Honesty in Recovery
We believe in realistic expectations. While some symptoms—like joint stiffness or minor pelvic floor issues—can show improvement quite quickly with the right advice, other changes like bone density management and tendon remodeling are long-term commitments.
Angela will provide an honest assessment of your prognosis, typically outlining a three to six-month roadmap for significant musculoskeletal adaptation. Our goal is to provide you with the tools and the confidence to manage your health long after you leave the clinic, ensuring you remain strong and active through the menopause and beyond.
Pricing and Appointments
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Initial Assessment (Menopause MOT) £99 (60 minutes)
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Follow-Up Session £78 (30 minutes)
Conveniently Located in Waterlooville
- The Physiotherapy Centre 96 London Road, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 5AB
- Opening Hours: Mon: 8.00–7.00 | Tue: 8.00–7.30 | Wed: 8.00–8.00 | Thu: 8.00–7.00 | Fri: 8.00–5.00 | Sat: 8.30–1.00
- We serve patients from Widley, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Cosham, Havant, Petersfield, and Portsmouth. The clinic is on the old A3 / London Road, just north of Portsdown Hill, near the Hampshire Rose pub. The No. 8 bus (Bushy Mead) stops just up the road.