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The Biology, Medical Management, and Podiatric Implications of Menopause

Arthur H. Friedlander, DDS^* and Lester J. Jones, DPM, MS

^* Associate Chief of Staff and Director of Graduate Medical Education, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA.
Assistant Chief of Staff for Quality Assurance and Department Chairman for Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA.

Mailing address: Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073.

Abstract

Approximately 36 million women in the United States are in the postmenopausal phase of life, creating unique challenges for the provision of compassionate, comprehensive podiatric medical treatment. Long-term estrogen deprivation arising from menopause in association with age-related factors disproportionately increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, osteoporosis, and concomitant podiatric complications. This article discusses the physiologic basis of menopause, hormone replacement therapy and its effects on osteoporosis, and other podiatric implications of menopause. Podiatric physicians caring for larger numbers of peri- and postmenopausal women must formulate a comprehensive management plan for treating fractures that arise from a combination of estrogen-deprivation osteoporosis and abnormal foot biomechanics. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 92(8): 437-443, 2002)