DESCRIBE THREE MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS!
The three musculoskeletal disorders that I have chosen are
Osteoporosis,
Arthritis and Bone cancer. I will describe all three of the disorders one by one,
down below:
OSTEOPOROSIS
It's a musculoskeletal disorder that causes bone tissue to thin and become less
dense. This weakens the bones, making them fragile and more likely to fracture.
It develops over several years and often is only diagnosed when a fall or a
sudden impact causes a bone to fracture. The stage before one develops
osteoporosis is known as osteopenia. This is when a scan shows that one has a
lower bone density than the average for their age. It doesn’t always lead to
osteoporosis and depends on many factors. More than 3 million people in the
U.K are affected by osteoporosis.
Why one might develop osteoporosis depends on many factors but the actual
cause is unknown. But the most affected ones are women, especially after their
menopause. However it can also affect men, younger women and children.
( NHS, 2019)
Figure 1:1. Normal bone vs osteoporosis bone.
Some risk factors that increase the development of osteoporosis are:
● Having too little or too much of a certain hormone in the body.
● Low calcium intake.
● Eating disorders.
● Gastrointestinal surgery.
, ● Taking medication like steroids or other medication for other diseases.
● Having certain medical problems such as celiac disease, cancer, kidney or
liver disease etc.
● Lifestyle choices such as a sedentary lifestyle ( sitting for a long amount
of time).
● Excessive alcohol consumption.
● Tobacco use.
● Family history ( Worksheet 4, 2021)
Most people don’t show any symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But
once they have a significant amount of damage and weakened bone by
osteoporosis, ( Mayo Clinic, 2019) they might show some symptoms including:
● Back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebrae.
● Loss of height over time.
● A stooped posture.
● A bone that breaks much more easily than expected.
● Receding gums
● Weaker grip strength.
● Weak and brittle fingernails. ( Worksheet 4, 2021)
The diagnosis of osteoporosis is based on the results of one's bone density scan,
and what sort of treatment one might get depends on factors such as age, sex,
risk of breaking a bone and previous injury history. To treat osteoporosis the
doctors might treat and prevent fractures and use medicine to strengthen the
bones. ( NHS, 2019)
The most common treatment that is used for osteoporosis are bisphosphonates.
They slow the rate that bone is broken down in one's body. Which maintains
bone density and reduces risk of a broken bone. Most people will also get
calcium and vitamin D prescriptions, since people with osteoporosis seem to
have less calcium in their bones. Other treatments include:
● SERMs
● Parathyroid hormone
● HRT( hormone replacement therapy)
● Testosterone treatment.
● Calcitonin.
● Raloxifene ( Evista) ( Worksheet 4, 2021)
Only medication doesn’t treat osteoporosis but one must also include: exercise,
good nutrition diet, quit smoking and limit alcohol. ( Mayo Clinic, 2020)
A great treatment that includes exercise is physiotherapy. It can help with
strengthening bones, as well as muscles. It can also prevent bone thinning,
reduce falls and help manage any pain. Bones can be improved through some
, types of exercise. A physiotherapist can find activities that suit one's needs and
that might strengthen the bones. ( Chartered society of physiotherapy, 2017)
Overall there is no cure for osteoporosis but proper treatment can help protect
and strengthen the bones. The treatments can help slow the breakdown of the
bone and some treatments can encourage new bone growth. (Healthline, 2019)
ARTHRITIS ( OSTEOARTHRITIS)
It’s a common disorder that causes pain and inflammation in a joint. Arthritis is
not a single disease because there are more than 100 types of arthritis and
related conditions. But the most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and
rheumatoid arthritis. It affects people of all ages, sexes and races. In the U.K
there are more than 10 million people that have arthritis or other similar
conditions. ( NHS, 2018).
Types of arthritis:
● Osteoarthritis
● Rheumatoid arthritis
● Ankylosing spondylitis
● Cervical spondylitis
● Fibromyalgia
● Lupus
● Gout
● Psoriatic arthritis
● Enteropathic arthritis
● Reactive arthritis
● Secondary arthritis
● Polymyalgia rheumatica ( NHS, 2018)
Because there are different types of arthritis, they also have different types of
treatments and therefore I will focus more on osteoarthritis.
OSTEOARTHRITIS
This is the most common type of arthritis found in the U.K. It often develops in
people in their mid-40 and older. But it can occur at any age as a result of an
injury or associated with other joint related problems. Women are the mostly
affected ones.