Musculoskeletal Disorders-a broad catergory of disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders are a wide category of physical problems involving the human musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system consist of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles which work together to allow movement and motion. Many disorders exist which involve some portion of the musculoskeletal system and can result in pain, disability, lost work time and decreased quality of life.

Back pain alone cost millions in lost work days and workers compensation for injuries on the job. The only more frequent cause of loss of work is the common cold. In addition to back pain problems such as carpal tunnel, Achilles tendonitis, arthritis, bursitis, tennis and golfers elbow can cause lost work time and decreased quality of life each year.

Some of these disorders are not preventable. People get hurt; children are born with birth defects such as osteogeneis impefecta and Pierre Robin syndrome. We all age and as we do we’re likely to develop arthritis and degenerative joint problems which just come with ageing. However, we can do much to protect our own musculoskeletal health. Regular exercise of a weight bearing nature can decrease the likelihood of osteoporosis or thinning bones which plague oldsters and is speculated to cause many hip fractures in the older population. In addition to exercise, supplemental calcium can help maintain bone density.

Arthritis is likely to happen to you if you live long enough. It’s just a side effect of age. However, regular gentle exercise and stretching can help preserve function of the joints. Keeping weight under control can extend the life of your joints.

Repetitive motion injuries such as tennis elbow, golfers elbow and carpal tunnel can often be prevented with appropriate ergonomic supports in work and play situations.

Research is being done which indicates conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and other autoimmune based disorders may be at least in part due to our lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise, as well as environmental factors such as pollution. Holistic modalities such as acupuncture, aromatherapy and botanicals have been used with some success to provide relief to sufferers of these disorders. This make one wonder if such modalities might be used preemptively as we age to prevent such problems and improve quality of life.

It is estimates an American turns 60 every minute. As our population is ageing, and the date of retirement possibility becomes more remote, the need for more preventative care and options to improve life’s quality will be needed.

http://theschmitthouse.net/Musculoskeltal.html