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Boost testosterone with personalized treatment plans
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Your knees, ankles, hips, and shoulders ache, and you don’t know why.
Joint pain can have many causes, from injury to arthritis — and we aren’t your doctor, so we can’t evaluate you. But if you have general joint pain with no obvious culprit, one potentially overlooked factor could be low testosterone. Sometimes called “low T”, low testosterone may influence pain perception, bone health, and joint function. So, how can testosterone and joint pain affect each other?
Testosterone is the main sex hormone (androgen) in the male body. You may know it plays a role in sexual health and helps build muscle. But what you might not know is that there are testosterone receptors throughout the body, including in muscles, bones, and joints.
Because of these tiny receptors, low levels of testosterone can cause numerous problems, like modifying pain levels.
Keep reading as we take a deeper look at the connection between testosterone levels and joint pain, including why they may be linked and what you can do about it.
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Testosterone production primarily occurs in the testes in men, with smaller amounts produced by the adrenal glands. It’s the main androgen in the male body. This male sex hormone plays a role in maintaining several aspects of men’s health.
For testosterone to have an effect in the body, it needs to bind to receptors that allow it to take action. These so-called androgen receptors are found in almost every organ system, including:
Muscles
Bone tissue
The brain
Fat cells
Testosterone has many essential functions inside the body, such as:
The development of the testes and penis in the womb
Triggering male puberty
Maintaining body hair
Increasing muscle mass and muscle strength
Strengthening bones and increasing bone mineral density
Increasing red blood cell production
Supporting joint health
Developing a deeper voice
Helping burn fat
Maintaining immune function
Maintaining sex drive (libido)
Levels of testosterone tend to decline with age, starting from about your mid-30s. Having low testosterone is medically known as male hypogonadism.
If you get a blood test to measure testosterone, you may see that the results include “total testosterone” and “free testosterone.”
Free testosterone is all the testosterone in your blood that’s unbound to carrier proteins that your body can readily use. Total testosterone includes this and the testosterone bound to these carrier molecules.
What are normal testosterone levels in men? Our guide has answers.
Can low testosterone cause joint pain? Some evidence suggests there might be a connection between the two.
Research consistently shows that testosterone protects against pain in males by limiting pro-inflammatory molecules like tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Pro-inflammatory molecules tell the body to produce inflammation.
Additionally, in males, high levels of testosterone have been shown to increase pain threshold — meaning you’re less sensitive to pain.
Increased pain related to movement (mechanical sensitivity) has been observed in male rats that produce abnormal testosterone levels. Yes, rat studies have limited application to humans, but they can help guide future human research.
Interestingly, in female rats, fluctuations in estrogen seem to increase pain intensity and perception. While human data are limited, observational studies in men support a link between low testosterone and higher pain scores, but causality has not been proven. Based on that theory, higher levels of testosterone in biological males may (at least partially) explain why they have a lower prevalence of chronic pain conditions than females.
Along with potentially modifying pain sensitivity, low testosterone may be linked to a higher risk of certain conditions that can cause joint pain, like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and fractures.
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common joint disorders, especially in aging adults. It results from cartilage breakdown, inflammation, and wear and tear over time.
Studies suggest that low levels of testosterone may be related to the development of arthritis, but evidence is mostly observational.
Research suggests that low T may accelerate processes like inflammation and cartilage breakdown. And men with lower testosterone levels seem to have higher rates of osteoarthritis.
In a 2025 study, researchers looked at the relationship between osteoarthritis and testosterone levels.
Low testosterone levels were significantly associated with osteoarthritis risk in both males and females. Combined, the risk was reported as 22 percent higher in those with low testosterone. The risk was similar between sexes.
In another study, also from 2025, researchers examined the relationship between total and free testosterone and the incidence of osteoarthritis and chronic pain in the knee and hand joints in males and females.
The researchers found that higher free testosterone and total testosterone were both significantly associated with a lower prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in males but not females.
In autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly attacks joint tissues. Men with RA often show low testosterone levels. Some researchers believe this hormone imbalance contributes to how much pain and inflammation RA patients experience.
In a 2024 study, researchers looked at data from over 3,000 males in the United States. They explored whether testosterone and a protein it’s often bound to, SHBG (short for sex hormone-binding globulin), play a role in rheumatoid arthritis.
Of these men, 191 were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and low testosterone levels were associated with a 2.3 times increased risk of RA.
However, these findings are observational and don’t prove a causal relationship.
Lower testosterone levels have been linked to a higher fracture risk in aging men. Fractures near a joint are one potential cause of joint pain, along with related symptoms such as swelling and tenderness.
Researchers are continuing to evaluate whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) might help undo (or lower) the risk. But right now, it’s still unclear.
In one 2024 study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that testosterone treatment didn’t result in lower fractures compared to a placebo in a group of men who:
Were between 45 and 80 years of age
Had preexisting (or a high risk of) cardiovascular disease
Had one or more symptoms of low testosterone
Had two morning testosterone concentrations of less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL)
Learn more about testosterone replacement therapy in our blog.
The best way to find out if you have low testosterone levels (known as male hypogonadism) is through a blood test, ideally measured on multiple mornings.
Normal ranges can vary slightly depending on the lab, but for adult men, a typical total testosterone range is roughly 300 to 1,000 ng/dL. The American Urological Association defines low testosterone as a total testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dL.
Symptoms of low testosterone can be subtle but may include:
Mood changes, such as irritability
Reduced muscle mass and strength
Weight gain and higher body mass index (BMI)
Fatigue
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Reduced quality of life
Low testosterone is formally diagnosed after two morning blood tests on separate days show low levels, and you experience signs or symptoms of deficiency.
→ Read: How to Test Testosterone Levels
Low testosterone may be caused by a combination of factors, such as:
Genetics
Lifestyle habits
Underlying medical conditions
Depending on the cause, a treatment plan may include:
Hormone therapy, like testosterone replacement therapy
Lifestyle changes, such as getting better sleep and increasing physical activity
Treating underlying health conditions
If you think you might have low T, it’s a good idea to speak to a licensed healthcare professional for a proper evaluation and testing.
TRT involves taking a synthetic form of testosterone to help replenish hormone levels. If you have low testosterone, it may help improve aspects of your health, such as your:
Muscle strength
Mood
Sex drive
Common forms of TRT include:
Injections
Gels
Patches
Pills
Pellets, which are placed under the skin by a medical professional and release testosterone slowly
Research is still ongoing to see if testosterone replacement therapy can help reduce chronic pain or conditions that can potentially lead to joint pain, such as fractures.
Of course, hormonal fluctuations aren’t the only potential cause of joint pain. People experience pain for lots of other reasons (which may or may not be indirectly linked to low testosterone). This includes:
Injuries, such as sprains, bursitis, or fractures
Osteoarthritis
Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Unexplained pain syndromes like fibromyalgia
General myalgia (muscle pain) caused by infections such as the flu
Joint infections
Serious medical conditions like cancer
If you’re unsure of what’s causing your joint pain, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional for a proper evaluation, especially if you’ve recently had a traumatic injury such as a fall or car accident.
Making lifestyle changes might help reduce joint pain, depending on the underlying cause. Here are a few ways you can support your joint health.
Regular physical activity can support both testosterone levels and joint health. Strength training can help you gain or maintain muscle mass, while weight-bearing exercises may help increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis.
If your joints are actively bothering you, get in touch with a healthcare professional before starting a new exercise program. They can tell you whether it’s safe and how to modify the workout if needed.
Proper nutrition can help support hormone levels, muscle and bone health, and overall health. General tips include:
Get plenty of protein, especially after exercising.
Eat lots of nutrient-dense foods with anti-inflammatory properties like dark leafy greens.
Aim to get enough vitamin D and calcium.
Reduce your intake of ultra-processed foods, which often contain pro-inflammatory oils and low nutrient-density.
Consider eating more fatty fish to increase your intake of omega-3s, or take a fish oil supplement.
Obesity is a risk factor for low testosterone levels. It also places excess strain on joints, potentially contributing to or worsening joint pain.
Weight loss or maintaining a healthy body weight may help improve your hormone levels and joint health.
Low testosterone and joint pain might be connected — at least indirectly. Men with lower testosterone levels may have:
Greater pain sensitivity due to the activation of pro-inflammatory pathways
A higher chance of overweight or obesity, which can put excess stress on joints
A higher risk of conditions that can contribute to joint pain, such as osteoarthritis or bone fractures
Testosterone replacement therapy may improve muscle mass and bone health for some men. It’s unclear if it can reduce the rates of bone fractures in men with low testosterone, but research is ongoing.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of low testosterone and joint pain, talk with a healthcare professional about your treatment options and natural ways to increase testosterone. Restoring healthy hormone balance may not only help you improve your joint health but also your overall well-being.
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