Have you heard of the diagnosis Hashimoto’s?
Hashimotos is a problem with the endocrine system of the body, but it affects the musculoskeletal system. Your musculoskeletal system includes the skeleton, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissue.
Hashimotos is a condition of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is made of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, mood, and more. Hashimoto's affects the musculoskeletal system.
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland which lives below the Adam’s apple of the neck. Hashimoto’s usually results in an under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism), but can also cause swings and high and low thyroid activity. Middle-aged women are more likely to have Hashimoto’s, but any gender can be diagnosed at various ages. Symptoms of Hashimoto’s include fatigue, depression, joint pain, hair loss, muscle weakness, and more. You can imagine how all of these symptoms impact how a person feels in the day, both physically and mentally.
Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s are when your body mistakenly attacks healthy cells.
According to one study, frozen shoulder, finger contractures, limited joint mobility, and carpal tunnel syndrome have all been found in patients with hypothyroidism. These are all musculoskeletal diagnosis. This does not mean that Hashimoto’s definitely causes these problems, but this does mean that these musculoskeletal problems often are seen with Hashimoto’s. This warrants a referral to a specialist, like a physical therapist, when present. (1)
A variety of musculoskeletal problems are associated with Hashimoto’s, but we don’t know definitively if Hashimoto’s causes them.
What we do know is that all people with Hashimoto’s most always experience some sort of musculoskskeletal problem whether that is general fatigue with movement, joint pain, or a more definitive diagnosis such as frozen shoulder. Physical therapy can help those with Hashimoto’s by addressing posture, sleeping, and work positions, strengthening the spinal muscles including the core, stretching the wrists and hands, and much more.
Physical therapy does not treat Hashimoto’s. Your primary care and other specialists do. Physical therapy does treat the side effects of Hashimoto’s which include anything to do with the musculoskeletal system.
Make sure to visit your primary care if you are questioning your thyroid health. If you want to learn more about Hashimoto’s, the American Thyroid Association is a good resource. Whole Body Health Physical Therapy is fortunate to know Heather Campbell, a local Portlander who is passionate about spreading the word about Hashimoto’s. You can read about her experience with her diagnosis and treatment on her website, www.hashimotossucks.com. Please only use online resources to gain knowledge rather than self-diagnose as Heather mentions in her website!
If you are struggling with any thyroid issue and would like to address any musculoskeletal symptoms you are experiencing with that issue, we are here to help at Whole Body Health Physical Therapy. We truly take pride in acknowledging the whole body and how systems like the endocrine and musculoskeletal interact.
RESOURCES:
1. Cakir M, Samanci N, Balci N, Balci MK. Musculoskeletal manifestations in patients with thyroid disease. Clinical Endocrinology. 2003;59(2):162-7