14.4 Health Issues Related to the Human Musculoskeletal System
Learn about human musculoskeletal disorders, their causes, and daily health practices to maintain a strong and functional skeletal system.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the causes, characteristics, and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders: osteoporosis, osteomalacia, rickets, osteoarthritis, and scoliosis.
- Explain the role of hormones (oestrogen) and nutrients (calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, and vitamin C) in maintaining bone density and health.
- Justify daily practices to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system, including good posture, proper attire, regular exercise, and a balanced diet.
- State the role of orthopaedic healthcare professionals in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders.
Comparison of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Healthy Bone Architecture
Compare normal and affected bone and joint structures to recognise the biomechanical consequences of each disorder.
Osteoporosis
Porous, brittle bones due to calcium loss exceeding absorption.
Osteomalacia & Rickets
Soft bones from calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D deficiency.
Osteoarthritis
Joint degeneration from thinning cartilage and reduced synovial fluid.
Scoliosis
Sideways curvature of the backbone forming an 'S' or 'C' shape.
Short Explanation
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Osteoporosis arises when bone reabsorption exceeds deposition, accelerated by low oestrogen levels after menopause. Osteomalacia and rickets stem directly from nutritional shortages of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, causing soft bones in adults and skeletal deformities in children, respectively.
Osteoporosis
A bone disorder characterised by weak, brittle, and porous bones that may break easily. As a person ages, the rate of calcium loss exceeds the rate of calcium absorption, leading to a loss in bone mass or density. Contributing factors include low intake of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, lack of exercise, and menopause in women. Symptoms include fragile bones, reduced height, and a stooped posture.
Osteomalacia and Rickets
Osteomalacia is a condition of soft bones occurring in adults, especially pregnant women, caused by a deficiency of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. Rickets is the form of osteomalacia that occurs in children, causing softening and weakening of growing bones, leading to permanent bone defects such as bowed legs.
Osteoarthritis
A common form of arthritis among the elderly. It is caused by decreased production of synovial fluid and wear and tear of cartilage in specific joints. Cartilage becomes thinner; ligaments shorten and lose elasticity. Joints such as the knee become swollen, painful, and less flexible, severely restricting daily activities like walking.
Scoliosis
A condition where the backbone bends abnormally to the side, forming an 'S' or 'C' shape when viewed from the back. It is caused by genetic factors or abnormal growth of the backbone during puberty development.
Practices to Maintain a Healthy Musculoskeletal System
Maintaining musculoskeletal health requires an active lifestyle: maintaining correct spinal posture, avoiding restrictive clothes and high-heeled shoes, regularly engaging in weight-bearing exercise, and consuming adequate calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and vitamin D.
Good Body Posture
Avoid slouching. Slouching exerts excess pressure on the vertebral column, leading to vertebral misalignment. This restricts blood circulation and compresses nerves and vital organs. Incorrect posture when using smartphones or computers can cause headaches, shoulder and neck pain, breathing difficulty, and back pain.
Proper Attire
Wear proper, comfortable, and loose-fitting clothing that does not restrict blood circulation or impair movement. Choose suitable shoes with low heels and proper cushioning to provide support and prevent injury to the vertebral column.
Exercise
Exercise strengthens joint structures, increases the flexibility of muscles and ligaments, stimulates bone mineral deposition, and increases bone strength in adults. It also helps prevent osteoporosis in the elderly.
Balanced Diet
Consume a diet rich in calcium such as milk and minerals such as phosphate. Vitamin D aids in calcium absorption, while vitamin C increases bone mass.
Medical Career Highlight: Orthopaedics
Orthopaedics is a specialised branch of medicine focusing on the diagnosis, care, and treatment of the musculoskeletal system. Practitioners are called orthopaedic surgeons.
Try to Answer First
Answer in your mind, then press "Check Answer".
Why are women who have reached menopause more susceptible to developing osteoporosis?
What is the difference between osteomalacia and rickets?
How does slouching affect general body physiology?
Common Mistakes
- Confusing osteomalacia with osteoporosis: Osteoporosis involves porous, brittle, and low-density bones with normal mineral ratios, whereas osteomalacia involves a softening of the bone matrix due to mineral deficiencies such as calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D.
- Believing that rickets and osteomalacia are caused by two different dietary deficiencies; they are both caused by insufficient calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, but differ by the age of the patient.
- Stating that arthritis is an infection or simple bone breakage, rather than the wear and tear of articular cartilage and reduction of synovial fluid.
- Assuming vitamin C and vitamin D serve the exact same role in bone health; vitamin D aids calcium absorption, whereas vitamin C is required to increase bone mass.
Concept Misunderstandings
Osteoporosis is an inevitable old-age disorder that cannot be prevented during youth.
Peak bone mass is built during youth. Consuming a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D along with regular exercise builds dense bones, greatly reducing the risk of osteoporosis in later years.
Wearing high-heeled shoes only causes temporary foot soreness.
High-heeled shoes alter normal body posture and the natural curvature of the spine, exerting abnormal pressure on the vertebral column and leading to long-term spinal injury and back pain.
Scoliosis only occurs due to carrying heavy backpacks.
While carrying heavy bags can cause strain and posture defects, true scoliosis is predominantly caused by genetic factors or abnormal vertebral growth during puberty.
Summary
- Osteoporosis: Porous, brittle bones caused by calcium loss exceeding absorption; aggravated by low oestrogen post-menopause.
- Osteomalacia & Rickets: Softening of bones due to lack of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D; termed osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children.
- Osteoarthritis: Joint degeneration marked by decreased synovial fluid, thinning cartilage, and shortened ligaments, causing joint pain and swelling.
- Scoliosis: Sideways curvature ('S' or 'C' shape) of the backbone caused by genetics or abnormal growth during puberty.
- Preventative Practices: Good upright posture, wearing low-heeled cushioned footwear and loose clothing, regular exercise, and a balanced diet with calcium, phosphate, vitamin D for calcium absorption, and vitamin C for bone mass.
Short Activity
Objective: identify musculoskeletal disorders, their causes, and daily health practices.
A. Objective Quiz
Why does the risk of developing osteoporosis increase significantly in women after menopause?
What is the specific role of vitamin D in maintaining a healthy musculoskeletal system according to the textbook?
B. Fill in the Blanks
The softening and weakening of children's bones due to a lack of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D, resulting in bone defects, is known as .
Osteoarthritis is caused by the wear and tear of cartilage in joints combined with a decrease in fluid.
C. Matching / Drag and Drop
Match each musculoskeletal disorder or condition to its correct textbook description. On a phone, tap a choice first, then tap the matching box. Tap the Answer Choices area to return a selected item.
C. Match the Disorder to Its Description
Write the correct disorder next to each description.
| Description | Disorder |
|---|---|
| 1. Bones become thin, porous, and brittle because calcium loss exceeds calcium absorption. | |
| 2. Soft bone condition in adults, especially pregnant women, due to deficiency in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. | |
| 3. Joint inflammation and pain caused by thinning cartilage and decreased synovial fluid. | |
| 4. Backbone bent sideways forming an 'S' or 'C' shape due to genetic or abnormal growth factors. |
Answer choices: Osteoporosis • Osteomalacia • Osteoarthritis • Scoliosis
