Frozen shoulder is far more than an annoying midlife ache—it’s a rapidly emerging women’s health issue with powerful links to perimenopause and menopause. In part one of a compelling conversation, Duke Orthopaedic Surgery associate professor and sports medicine specialist Dr. Jocelyn R. Wittstein, MD, joined Dr. Mary Claire Haver to explore how declining estrogen affects joints, bones, muscles, and connective tissue.
Wittstein—a practicing orthopaedic surgeon, researcher, former collegiate gymnast, and mother of five—shared what years of caring for patients revealed: women aged 40 to 60 experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms were also presenting with frozen shoulder at striking rates. Her groundbreaking research is reshaping clinicians' understanding of the musculoskeletal changes that accompany hormonal transitions.
She shared:
- Why frozen shoulder disproportionately affects women in midlife
- The “critical window” for early diagnosis and intervention
- How physical therapy can worsen symptoms during the inflammatory phase
- Emerging evidence that systemic estradiol may cut frozen shoulder risk in half
- What warning signs women should never ignore
Wittstein also highlighted her broader work in ACL injuries among female athletes, the musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause, and her leadership as president of the Forum for Women in Sports Medicine.