Bones and Joints - What can go wrong? (eefo.net user)

What problems can you get affecting the musculoskeletal system?

Musculoskeletal Problems Affect Quality of Life:

• Pain

• Loss of function

• Limit activities and participation

• Loss of vitality

• Anxiety & depression

• Fear of not being able to do what you want or need to do

• Often chronic and progressive

• Affect almost a quarter of all adults

Musculoskeletal pain

- 20% of adults have musculoskeletal pain

- Musculoskeletal pain limits every day activities in 25%

- Musculoskeletal pain is usually chronic and its impact is under-rated

- Musculoskeletal pain can be severe

- Pain is related to various musculoskeletal conditions and problems

What is Arthritis?

ARTHROS = JOINT

ITIS = INFLAMMATION

Arthritis increases with aging

Wear & tear(Osteoarthritis) v Inflammation (Rheumatoid arthritis)

Osteoarthritis

• Joint failure

• Loss of cartilage

• Pain

• Loss of function

Rheumatoid Arthritis: What is happening in the joints?

Gout

- Acute gout

- Sudden onset of severe pain and tenderness

- Build of uric acid which forms crystals in the joints and deposits of crystals in the soft tissues (tophi)

- Crystals in joints trigger acute inflammation

Typical joints:

– Big toe
– Ankle and foot
– Knees
– Fingers, wrists, elbows

Low Back Pain

Almost everybody gets backache at some time

- Affects all ages

- Common cause for sick leave

- Commonest reason is mechanical problems in the way it works or “wear & tear

Some specific causes:

– Slipped disc

– Inflammation - ankylosing spondylitis

– Fractured vertebra due to osteoporosis

– Tumours

Osteoporosis

As we get older our bones become thinner, more porous and weaker. They break more easily - this is osteoporosis:

– Loss of amount bone

– Loss of structure of bone

– Increased risk of fracture

– Increased number of fractures

• Fractures typically affect forearm, hip and back bones (vertebrae)

Osteoporotic Fractures increase with age

Often caused by activities at work or by sports:

- Sprains and strains

- Pain from structures around the joints (Ligaments & tendons, Bursa)

Sports Injuries

Most common reason is overuse due to poor training and bad technique

• Risk factors

– Muscle weakness and imbalance

– Flexibility and joint laxity (hypermobility)

• Common problems

– Muscle sprains and strains

– Tears of the ligaments that hold joints together

– Tears of the tendons that support joints and allow them to move

– Dislocated joints

– Fractured bones: Acute or Stress

Written by an eefo.net user

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