During your childhood, teens and 20s your bones and joints mature. By age 30 your bones are at their strongest and most dense. As you continue to age you can begin to lose this bone density. Your bones may weaken and have problems absorbing vitamins and minerals from your digestive tract.
The cartilage lining your joints can also begin to thin, making joints stiff and more susceptible to disease.
Chemical changes in your protein ingestion can make your ligaments lose elasticity and this adds to joint stiffness. Back problems are also common with age when tissues are stretched at vulnerable points. Living with joint pain and bone deformity is not necessary however.
Time taken now to take care of your skeletal system will help you maintain an active, independent life for the years to come.
Joints
Your skeletal system contains different types of joints:
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Disease
Over time without proper care and nutrition, the bones of your skeletal system can become vulnerable to disease. Arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, infectious arthritis, fibromyalgia, anklyosing spondylitis, bursitis, tendonitis and tenosynovitis are just some of the many prevalent conditions that may result from lack of bone and joint development and maintenance. Here is some further information on just a handful of these in more detail…
Ankylosing spondylitis
A chronic condition shown by inflammation of the joints between your spine and pelvis, causing pain and stiffness to your lower back, tendons, ligaments, ribcage and spine (and even your eyes), resulting in walking difficulties.
Osteoporosis
A disorder of the skeletal system showing a reduction in bone density resulting in fragility and possible fracture.Osteoporosis is a condition older women worry about the most. It is the number 1 bone disorder in post-menopausal women. However, whilst osteoporosis is often only thought of as an older person’s disorder, especially of post-menopausal women, it must be emphasized that it can strike at any age, in men as well as women.
Special Note:
| The importance of weight-bearing exercise in osteoporosis prevention and treatment… Since studies conducted way back in 1892 it has been observed that your bone formation depends on activity and function for shape, size and thickness to be determined. Studies report that risks of osteoporosis remain significantly lower in people who do regular weight-bearing activities. The more bone mass density (BMD) you build in youth, the stronger you will be in later life. Weight-bearing exercise, such as gym work, is a reliable way to do this. Performed sensibly, and under supervision if you are of a weak disposition, it can be undertaken at any age. Even people aged 80+ have felt significantly stronger and healthier from undertaking this type of exercise so it is never too late to start! Weight-bearing exercise can even help you to reverse the effects of osteoporosis as it stimulates bone formation and rebuilds density. It also improves your balance and coordination. |
Rheumatism and arthritis
Pain and inflammation around your bones, muscles or joints. Rheumatism is a chronic autoimmune disease, often with marked bone deformities. A trigger attacks the synovium, releasing cytokines that in turn stimulate an inflammatory reaction that can lead to the destruction of all components of a joint.
Gout
Uric acid builds up in the body resulting in excess uric acid deposits in the joints causing inflammation. It can be immensely painful as the upon movement of the affected area.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A condition commonly causing numbness and pain in the hands, caused by increased pressure on the median nerve that enters the hand, usually from swelling of the median nerve lining.
The median nerve sends messages to your brain to enable you to move your muscles. It also provides sensation to your thumb, index finger and middle finger. The most common cause is swelling or thickening of the lining of the median nerve, often through repetitive flexing and extending of the tendons.
Fibromyalgia
Tender points of the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms and legs, causing muscular pain and fatigue, resulting in major discomfort, including a tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Tender areas in the muscles form "knots" and create muscle spasms and tightness. Fibrous dysplasia is a related progressive condition where multiple muscles begin to form bone.
Sprains and Strains
A sprain is an injury to a ligament, where your ligaments are stretched or torn, usually from a fall, twist or knock, but also from systemic weakness.
A strain is an injury to your muscle or tendon, where your muscles or tendons are stretched or torn, usually caused by a twist or pull.
Both can result in prolonged pain, muscle spasms and weakness, swelling and muscle cramps.
Bursitis
Occurring when a bursa (small fluid-filled sacs that lubricate and cushion pressure points between your bones, tendons and muscles) becomes inflamed, causing pain on movement. The cause may be from an infection, or a rheumatic condition, but is often the result of repeated pressure, friction or other injury.
Bone Cancer
Two main types of bone cancer are found. These are primary (cancer that stems from the bone) and secondary (cancer that stems from another organ but spreads to the bone).
Types of bone cancers (tumors) include:
- Sarcomas (developing from bone, muscle and tissues)
- Benign tumors (non-cancerous), and
- Malignant tumors (cancerous), e.g. Osteosarcoma (of the bone itself); Chondrosarcoma (of cartilage cells) and Fibrosarcoma (from "soft tissues" such as ligaments and tendons)
Infections
Bone and joint infections can damage cartilage and tissue rapidly.
Osteomyelitis is one such debilitating infection, caused by a variety of microbial agents usually occurring from an injury, other infections from elsewhere in the body and from bacteria in the blood.
If Osteomyelitis is left untreated it can result in a loss of blood supply to the bone and the eventual death of bone tissue.
Bone and joint inflammation
Particular areas of bone or certain of your joints can become hot, red, swollen and extremely painful, often without a particular or recalled trigger.
The inflammation doesn’t respond to rest or recuperation.
NB: An aid to inflammation is strongly recommended later in our Natural Treatments section.
