Why do women hurt more than men?
June 25, 2009 – 1:41 pmSome new developments concerning structural differences may also add fuel to the gender phenomena fire. Several biomedical journals have published articles implicating inherited anatomical factors. Studies indicate that, as a group, women have forty percent less neck musculature than men, yet the female head still represents approximately eight percent of a woman’s total body weight which is the same percentage as in males. These conclusions could help explain why many more women, on average, suffer from migraines, osteoporosis, degenerative disc disease, and forward head postures than men.
Manual therapists are keenly aware that pain does not afflict the two genders equally. Most medical literature points to consistent findings that women report more musculoskeletal pain than men, and additionally—the females’ experience seems to differ significantly from that of their male counterpart. Some researchers believe this discrepancy is due to biological issues since female activities are typically comprised of a different set of risk factors for injury and pain. Others blame genetics such as inherited limbic system (emotional) overactivity and physical structural differences. My wife says I don’t listen to her…your thoughts?
According to a Robert Sandos’ article in the European Journal of Pain, “While education and unemployment seemed to be primarily associated with pain among men, economic worries, half-time work, and being married were the most commonly reported pain-generators among women”.
9 Responses to “Why do women hurt more than men?”
Hi Eric,
I think the facts are often skewed badly on this subject. For instance,stats say that there is one man diagnosed with fibro for every 20 women with the diagnosis. There are probably more, but men are stubborn (just ask your wife!) about going to the doctor, especially when the complaints are vague symptoms rather than something concrete like a broken bone or the flu.I don’t know if it’s a macho thing to ignore an ache or pain until you’re so bad off you can’t move, but that’s my
humble opinion. I will let my husband say something hurts 3 or 4 times, and then I will tell him to either do something about it or don’t mention it again;)!
By Laura Allen on Jun 28, 2009
I know from personal experience hormonal imbalances affect men a great deal more than reported. How many of us experience hot flashes and unfounded mood swings in our 50′s and 60′s? I’m raising my hand.
Thx for the post Laura…
By Erik Dalton on Jun 28, 2009
This is interesting. I have to agree with Laura about men’s reluctance to report pain and seek medical treatment. My practice is about 80% females and I’ve only seen one man with fibro in 20 years! It’s also interesting that I will often get calls from a man’s spouse to get him in for bodywork. Men tend to wait until it’s pretty bad and generally are not as compliant as women with a treatment plan.
It is a macho thing to ignore/deny pain for men. Pain is probably seen as a sign of weakness and not in the typical male role culture.
Isn’t is also interesting that most of the MTs are female, yet mostly men teach massage classes for pain management-except J. Walker’ s NMT.
By Jody Hutchinson,nctmb on Jun 28, 2009
Generally speaking, I believe women are more health conscious than men. When on staff at the Health Institute of San Diego in the mid 70s, it was obvious that our female clientele were more attuned to their bodies than their male counterparts.
During the formative stages of Rolf training (50s and 60s), Ida only accepted male applicants. She didn’t believe women had the strength or structure for the work. Today, 70 percent of all applicants accepted for training and about 40 percent of Rolf Institute instructors are women. Nice progress in that organization.
Having said that, I do agree with Sandos’ findings that men and women experience pain differently. His study suggests that addressing the enequities in the experience of pain could require more than a simple alteration of physical risk factors. It also highlighted the necessity for greater research into many factors–ranging from employment inequities, social order within specific cultural norms–to biological make-up.
By Erik Dalton on Jun 28, 2009
When listening to a client’s history during a typical manual therapy in-take session, a clear picture often emerges. Unfortunately, the picture seems to change from visit to visit. What is the best way of arriving at a true pain portrait of this individual? Thoughts?
By Erik Dalton on Jun 30, 2009
Interesting piece on fibromyalgia at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2474/10/78/abstract. Summarizing this study, it appears the voluntary contractions in the FM group were more related to central motor control failure than actual muscle membrane alterations. A couple of other recent studies find the same thing…brain and/or spinal cord (possibly nerve root lesions?) causing the tissue texture abnormality.
By Erik Dalton on Jul 4, 2009
From an Eastern perspective, the Siddha Vaidya tradition, woman have more disases than men as the do 3 things a man can’t do. Lactate, Ovulate, & Menstrate. I heard this quote in India, ” Woman hold up half the sky.” Keep going Erik your ideas are very good.
By Gregg Hill on Aug 15, 2009
all i want to know is do most older men come back to younger women?who are in love with them?this man that left me is not married at all.and this pain i fill is horrible. i have loved this man for 21yrs.and i just told him a few months ago.and then 2wks ago he lives me.he has been single since 1975.that is a very long time to be alone.and the reason he now knows i love him is.we just found each other again.i think i told him to soon please help me thankyou
By dona adono on Aug 25, 2009
I wonder how touch affects oxytocin in women vs men, and then how oxytocin affects healing.
By Catherine Allis on Dec 3, 2009