There are not a lot of positives in the peri-menopause column. This change of life brings hormone imbalance, mood swings, night sweats and pain. You have recently entered the peri-menopause cycle of life, and the one thing which is driving you to distraction is back pain. Back pain is debilitating and interferes with every aspect of your day, so it is time to discover three reasons why you are in pain and what a physiotherapist can do about it.

Anxiety

Not every woman experiences increased anxiety as she enters menopause, so it is an under-reported symptom related to this age of life. Anxiety appears during menopause for several reasons. One reason is due to the lower amount of estrogen being produced by the body. There is a complex link between hormones and the levels of serotonin and dopamine, and these chemicals impact level of mood and happiness.

Another reason for anxiety is a fear of being judged as the skin sags a little lower and the fluctuating sweat levels leave stains on clothing. Once anxiety takes hold, muscles get clenched, and this constant tension and tightness turn into back pain.

Bad Diet

Did you know that as well as adding kilos of weight, a bad diet affects the muscle tension in your body? Your body needs protein to regularly repair muscle fibres and lots of water so they can contract without pain. Turning to non-nutritional food such as lollies and other sweet treats while you are battling through menopause puts your back muscles under pressure. When back muscles can't perform correctly, then pain appears.

Lack Of Movement

Peri-menopause can lead to you feeling bad about yourself, and this upset often impacts on exercise routines. The problem is that your body needs to move regularly to keep the muscles limber and the blood flowing. Inactivity is another reason why back pain appears as the muscles are starving for oxygen which comes with constant blood flow.

Now that you know what causes the menopausal back pain, it's time to make an appointment to see your local physiotherapist. A regular massage stimulates the blood flow through the muscles in your body. Free flowing blood causes muscle nerves to inflate and the pain to flow away. Additionally, a massage releases endorphins into the body. These happy chemicals help to enhance your mood, reduce anxiety and make you less likely to turn to sweet treats for comfort.

Finally, a physiotherapist can teach you a range of back stretches and exercises which will help to keep your body limber, and this helps to banish back pain for good.