WOMAN’S GP DR HELEN WALL ON HER TOPIC OF THE WEEK
What’s normal when it comes to stiffness?
Always ache when you get out of bed? Creak when you climb the stairs? You may need to see your GP about your joints…
Aches, pains and stiffness – at any age – could be caused by too little or too much movement, incorrect posture, wear and tear, declining hormones or underlying medical conditions. If you brought these symptoms to my clinic, I’d want to hear about your recent activity levels, any falls or trips you may have had, your hormonal symptoms, periods (or lack of) and your general health.
COMMON CAUSES
Oestrogen plays a vital role in protecting joints and reducing overall inflammation. As this hormone drops in perimenopause, some women can feel achy and stiff, and I have no doubt that a significant number of them incorrectly receive a diagnosis of fibromyalgia in their 40s and 50s, especially if they also have fatigue, sleep and mood changes. Couple falling oestrogen with reducing testosterone levels, which results in reduced muscle strength and tone, and you have a recipe for reduced flexibility.
Exerting our bodies through exercise or heavy activity can leave muscles stiff and aching for up to 72 hours, but not moving enough can also cause problems. Movement encourages the fluid in our joints to be released, but this stops as we rest, sleep or sit for long periods and our joints can become stiff and muscle fibres shorten. Inactivity also limits blood flow to our muscles, reducing the nutrients they can absorb.
MAINTAINING MOBILITY
Sometimes there can be an underlying condition, such as arthritis or inflammatory brain or nerve disorders. If aches, pains or stiffness have come on suddenly or worsened, are associated with visible joint or muscle swelling, weakness, redness or deformity, or you have other symptoms such as fever, or mobility issues on a daily basis, see your GP. Age-related stiffness should be a gradual onset and, while both
