Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men
Female sex hormones play an important role in the aetiology and pathophysiology of a variety of musculoskeletal degenerative diseases. Postmenopausal women show accelerated disc degeneration due to relative oestrogen deficiency, resulting in narrower intervertebral disc space in women than age-match...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2017-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Orthopaedic Translation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X16300158 |
| _version_ | 1811273000855535616 |
|---|---|
| author | Yi Xiang J. Wang |
| author_facet | Yi Xiang J. Wang |
| author_sort | Yi Xiang J. Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Female sex hormones play an important role in the aetiology and pathophysiology of a variety of musculoskeletal degenerative diseases. Postmenopausal women show accelerated disc degeneration due to relative oestrogen deficiency, resulting in narrower intervertebral disc space in women than age-matched men, increased prevalence of spondylolisthesis, and increased prevalence of facet joint osteoarthritis. Postmenopausal women also show higher osteoporosis related spine fracture rate, particularly at the thoracic–lumbar junction site. I propose the concept that low back pain (LBP) is more prevalent in postmenopausal women than age-matched men and is associated with the physiological changes caused by the relatively lower level of sex hormones after menopause in women. Considering hormone replacement treatment (HRT)'s consistent efficacy reported with menopause-associated osteoarthritis, an in-depth understanding of the role of the gonadal hormones in LBP modulation warrants further study. HRT initiated at early postmenopausal phase may be protective for recurring LBP. If this is the case, further cost–benefit analysis should be performed for optimal HRT regimen in cases of women with high risk of recurring severe LBP. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:50:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8d3b6f532016460bb6678a97c566246b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-031X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T22:50:22Z |
| publishDate | 2017-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Orthopaedic Translation |
| spelling | doaj.art-8d3b6f532016460bb6678a97c566246b2022-12-22T03:13:22ZengElsevierJournal of Orthopaedic Translation2214-031X2017-01-018C1410.1016/j.jot.2016.05.012Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched menYi Xiang J. WangFemale sex hormones play an important role in the aetiology and pathophysiology of a variety of musculoskeletal degenerative diseases. Postmenopausal women show accelerated disc degeneration due to relative oestrogen deficiency, resulting in narrower intervertebral disc space in women than age-matched men, increased prevalence of spondylolisthesis, and increased prevalence of facet joint osteoarthritis. Postmenopausal women also show higher osteoporosis related spine fracture rate, particularly at the thoracic–lumbar junction site. I propose the concept that low back pain (LBP) is more prevalent in postmenopausal women than age-matched men and is associated with the physiological changes caused by the relatively lower level of sex hormones after menopause in women. Considering hormone replacement treatment (HRT)'s consistent efficacy reported with menopause-associated osteoarthritis, an in-depth understanding of the role of the gonadal hormones in LBP modulation warrants further study. HRT initiated at early postmenopausal phase may be protective for recurring LBP. If this is the case, further cost–benefit analysis should be performed for optimal HRT regimen in cases of women with high risk of recurring severe LBP.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X16300158epidemiologyintervertebral disc degenerationlow back painoestrogenphysiological sex difference |
| spellingShingle | Yi Xiang J. Wang Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men Journal of Orthopaedic Translation epidemiology intervertebral disc degeneration low back pain oestrogen physiological sex difference |
| title | Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men |
| title_full | Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men |
| title_fullStr | Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men |
| title_full_unstemmed | Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men |
| title_short | Menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age-matched men |
| title_sort | menopause as a potential cause for higher prevalence of low back pain in women than in age matched men |
| topic | epidemiology intervertebral disc degeneration low back pain oestrogen physiological sex difference |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214031X16300158 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yixiangjwang menopauseasapotentialcauseforhigherprevalenceoflowbackpaininwomenthaninagematchedmen |