Musculoskeletal systemMobility and independence

GEY 3601-001Fall 2003

Instructor: Ross Andel, Ph.D.

PART I: Skeletal system

Components:- Bone- Joints- Cartilage- Ligaments- Tendons

Function:

- Support body organs

- Protect brain, heart, lungs

- Movement (with muscles)

- Storage

- Blood cell formation

Skeleton

Axial- skull, spinal column,

thorax

Appendicular- Arms, legs,

shoulders, hips

Spine

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

SacrumTail bone

Bone

Compact (hard/dense)

Spongy (cancellous)

Marrow (cavities)

Age-related changes in the skeletal system

Gradual loss of calcium (bone density)About 2-4% a year, accelerated by inactivity

Changes in

cartilage

Disorders of the skeletal system

Osteoporosis

Risk factors for osteoporosis

Prevention of osteoporosisas well as other disorders of the skeleton

Arthritis

1. Osteoarthritis 2. rheumatoid arthritis 3. goit

Osteoarthritis(degenerative joint disease)

Most common form of arthritis Potential causes – obesity, trauma, diabetes,

joint or immune system disorders Symptoms – joint pain, stiffness,

inflammation Treatment – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory

drugs (NSAID’s), corticosteroid injections, arthroscopic surgery

Osteoarthritis(degenerative joint disease)

Rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune/genetic disorderCan involve more than just jointsSymptoms – inflammation, thickening

of the joint capsule – stiffnessTreatment – NSAID’s, corticosteroid

injections

Rheumatoid arthritis

Gout

Metabolic disease of the kidneys, uric acid accumulation

Symptoms – inflammation, pain

Treatment – NSAID’s

Paget’s disease

Metabolic bone disease bone destruction and abnormal

re-growth deformity

PART II: Muscles of the body

Skeletal

Smooth Cardiac

Skeletal muscles

Voluntary, attached to the skeleton Functions:- Movement- Posture- Heat production- Excitability- Ability to contract/extend- Elasticity

Smooth muscles

E.g. digestive system, blood vesselsSlow sustained, rhythmicalRole – sustain essential bodily

functions

Movement of materials/fluids through and out of the body

Cardiac muscle

Resembles a smooth muscle

Own pacemaker + autonomic nervous system (mostly involuntary)

About 2.5 billion contractions in a normal lifetime

Age-related changes

Skeletal muscles:

- Reduced muscle strength and mass

- Reduction in strength of contractions

Smooth/cardiac muscles:

- Loss of elasticity

- Loss of muscle strength

Spinal alignment problems

Common in adolescents as well as older adults

Can be related to osteoporosis in the spine, muscle dystrophy

Leads to discomfort, back painTreatment – exercise, surgery

Scoliosis

A lateral (away from the middle) or sideways curvature of the spine

Dorsal kyphosis

Extreme curving of the dorsal spine, leads a slouching posture

Lordosis

increased curvature of the lumbar spine

Muscle disorders

Muscle cramps

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)

Bursitis

Myalgia

Preserving health of muscles

Strength training

Cardiovascular

exercise

Stretching

Healthy diet

Control weight

Avoid smoking