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Article: Changes in the Skeletal System due to Aging

Changes in the Skeletal System due to Aging - Vansaar

Changes in the Skeletal System due to Aging

Aging is a process that brings about gradual changes in the body. While it may be seen more profoundly in some individuals, others may not show evident signs of aging until very late. Just like any other systems of the body, the skeletal system also undergoes a lot of changes during old age. A person who was apparently taller during his younger years, may appear short in stature as there may be a stooping curvature of the spine. In general, old age brings about changes in body posture and gait (walking pattern) because of changes in the skeletal system.

The human skeletal system comprises of muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. The adult human body skeleton consists of 206 bones that provide the structural framework to the body. However, as the age progresses, these bones lose density by undergoing decalcification and demineralization. Even the muscles lose their strength and mass with advancing age. Such effects of aging cause older people to become more prone to falls and fractures, limits their mobility and range of motion, and leads to conditions such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

 

Causes of aging

There are several causes that contribute towards the aging process. Some of these are listed below:

  • Genetics and heredity: Shorter telomeric end of chromosomes are linked to aging. These ends naturally shorten with age.
  • Lifestyle patterns: Unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical exercises, smoking, and consumption of alcohol are potential causes that speed up the aging process.
  • Environmental factors: Expose to pollutants, hazardous chemicals, and toxins accelerates the aging process.
  • Hormonal imbalances: A drop in the levels of estrogen after menopause often leads to a condition called osteoporosis in women. In this ailment, the bones become fragile and weak and tend to break or get fractured easily.

 

Functions of skeleton

The human skeletal system plays a major role in giving the body its proper shape and features. The main functions of the musculoskeletal system are explained below:

  • Helps in body movement: The skeleton offers support to our body weight and helps us to stand and move around. All the components of the skeletal system jointly work together to make the body mobile.
  • Protects and supports internal organs: Several internal organs of the body are protected by the skeletal system. For instance, the brain is shielded by the skull, the ribs offer protection to the lungs and heart, while the backbone supports the spine.
  • Produces bone cells: Bones contain bone marrow region that are actively involved in the production of red and white blood cells.
  • Stores minerals: Calcium and vitamin D reserves of the body are held in the bones. Thus, bones act as a storehouse of these minerals.

 

Age-related changes in musculoskeletal system

The effects of aging on skeletal muscle and bones bring about a host of changes in our bodies. Here, we highlight the significant changes that our body undergoes as a result of aging.

  1. Effect of aging on bones
  • Loss of mineral content in bones, leading to their becoming less dense, fragile, and brittle.
  • Bones lose mass and density, resulting in osteoporosis in both men and women and raising the risk of fractures, especially of the hips.
  • Cartilages present in between the bones, suffer wear and tear, contain less water content that makes them more susceptible to stress and development of osteoarthritis which restricts mobility.
  • Ligaments and joints become less elastic, decreasing flexibility, and range of motion.

 

  1. Effect of aging on muscles
  • With advancing age, the muscles tend to shrink and lose mass.
  • The number and size of muscle fibers also reduces.
  • Muscle tissue gets replaced at a slower rate with a tough, fibrous tissue.
  • Tendons (cord-like tissues) that attach muscles to bones, have depleted water content, making these tissues stiff and less capable of withstanding stress.
  • Heart muscles weaken as we age and become less efficient in pumping blood to the various body parts, leading to feelings of fatigue and weakness.

 

  1. Effects of aging on joints
  • Joint movement becomes restricted due to stiffness of joints owing to the decrease in synovial fluid (lubricates the joints), thereby restricting movement.
  • Ligaments too shorten in length and there is some loss of flexibility, making the joints stiff.

 

Bone problems in old age

There are several changes in the skeletal system during old age that results in limited mobility. As the bone mass and density reduces, bone aging becomes more evident. Some of the common problems that occur during old age are:

 

  1. Osteoporosis: A very common problem occurring especially in women who have attained menopause. This disease results in bone loss as the body doesn’t get enough calcium, resulting in fragile and brittle bones. The main reason behind this is the decrease in bone mass and bone mineral density.

 

  1. Osteoarthritis: Results in changes in bones and joints such as mild stiffness due to painful wearing down of joints. Major contributors are age, injury, and medical conditions such as Lyme disease that later turns to arthritis.

 

  1. Bone fracture: Bone fractures can take place due to cartilage wear and tear that happens due to continuous stress on a bone because of some trauma, disease, or a tumor.

 

  1. Osteomalacia: This bone disease is characterized by “bone softening” in adults that usually occurs as a result of prolonged deficiency of Vitamin D.

 

At least half of the age-related changes to the joints, muscles, and bones are caused due to a lack of physical activity. Stiff joints occur when we lead a sedentary lifestyle and do not engage in any form of exercise. To keep the bones and joints healthy, one must start leading an active lifestyle and keep age-associated musculoskeletal problems at bay! For additional support and advice, it is recommended to get in touch with health experts who can offer the right solution to your bone-related health issues.

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