TAKING CARE OF YOUR BONES AND JOINTS
Together, bones, joints, muscles and tendons make up the structure and form of the body. They hold us together, protect our internal organs and are the machinery we use to move and carry out our daily activities.
They are also the parts of the body we can’t see and pay little attention to until we feel pain, our movement is restricted or we can no longer do the activities we enjoy.
Take care of your bones and joints.
Exercise regularly: physical activity can improve bone, joint and muscle health.
Eat nutritious foods: a diet high in saturated fats and sugar blocks bone-building calcium from being absorbed.
Make your home safe: falls causing injury are most likely to occur in or near the home.
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Common Bone and Joint Problems
Strong and flexible bones and joints move smoothly. They allow people to go about their daily activities free of pain and without restriction.
But millions of Canadians suffer from chronic musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis, back pain, and osteoporosis. These conditions cause pain. They can shut people off from everyday activities – a job, a sport, a walk. People with musculoskeletal conditions are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.
Add in fractures and sports trauma and the problem is multiplied. It’s no wonder Canadians see orthopaedic surgeons more frequently than any other type of specialist.
The prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions generally increases with age. In Alberta, one in five people will be a senior by 2031 – a strong indicator of rising need for musculoskeletal care.
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Arthritis
Arthritis afflicts 4.3 million Canadians. It also accounts for about 60% of musculoskeletal disorders in Canada.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis. They range from the common “tennis elbow”, a mild form of tendinitis, to painful and potentially crippling osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
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Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis – or degenerative joint disease – is the most common form of arthritis. It affects one in 10, or approximately 278,000 Albertans. It usually attacks the weight-bearing joints striking most often in the hips and knees, the largest weight-bearing joints in the body.
It is responsible for 81% of hip replacements and 93% of knee replacements.
Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, a tough elastic substance that allows the bones to move smoothly, deteriorates leaving the bones to grind against each other. This causes the bones to degenerate, resulting in pain and stiffness. As the condition worsens, loss of mobility and, in extreme cases, dysfunction and deformity can occur.
The prevalence of osteoarthritis increases with age. The risk of developing OA rises with excess body weight – and the risk is nine-fold for obese people. Consider that carrying just 4.5 kg of extra weight increases the force on your knees by 13.5 kg to 27 kg with each step.
With Alberta’s population aging and living longer and an estimated one-quarter of Albertans being obese, rates of osteoarthritis are expected to rise.
The good news is that there are many effective ways to treat osteoarthritis, including:
- Medications
- Exercise
- Strategies to protect the joints from excess strain
- Surgery
Some people also experience temporary pain relief through acupuncture and massage.
Surgery to reconstruct or replace the joint is a highly effective treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis. Hip and knee replacements are among the most successful surgical procedures in orthopaedics, and are a proven method of alleviating pain and restoring function, mobility and quality of life.
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Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is known as the “silent thief” because, with no symptoms, it robs the bone of tissue leaving it with thousands of tiny pores. Porous bones become fragile and can break with little stress. Hip, spine and wrist fractures are most common.
Approximately 2 million Canadians suffer from osteoporosis. Half of them will eventually suffer a bone fracture. Half of those who have osteoporosis and fracture a hip will not return to their previous level of activity and will become dependent on others for at least some of their normal daily activities.
Women are particularly at risk because their rate of osteoporosis is twice that of men. One in four women in Canada over the age of 50 has osteoporosis.
In Canada, one in three women over 65 will suffer a hip fracture. The World Health Organization predicts hip fractures will more than triple by 2050.
Diet can be an enemy or an ally in the battle against osteoporosis. A diet high in saturated fats and sugar blocks bone-building calcium from being absorbed. But a healthy diet together with physical activity helps to build bone in children and young adults. It also helps to slow bone loss in older adults.
Don’t let the “silent thief” in the door. Preventing osteoporosis is easier than treating it. Keep your bones strong by staying physically active. Eat nutritious foods and make sure you get enough calcium.
The “silent thief” can be arrested. If you have osteoporosis, there is a variety of drug treatments to prevent further loss of bone density and reduce fractures. Be physically active to build bone strength and improve muscle strength and balance, reducing the risk of a fall.
Make sure your calcium intake is adequate – studies of older adults show that adequate calcium intake can slow bone loss and lower the risk of fracture.
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Injury Prevention
Most injuries are preventable. A few minutes of planning can make the difference between participating in your favourite activities and watching from the sidelines as you nurse an injury. No matter what the activity – walking, gardening, playing hockey, home maintenance – take some time to consider the risks and the steps you can take to eliminate or reduce them. Here are a few common-sense ideas for preventing injury:
- Warm up before and cool down after strenuous activity – stretch your muscles and ligaments and loosen up stiff joints.
- Make sure you have the equipment and skills needed to do a task safely.
- Remove clutter that can cause you to trip or slip.
- Use appropriate footwear for outdoor conditions – especially in winter.
- Keep stairs and walkways clear and in good condition.
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Falling Is a Major Risk for Seniors
Falls are the cause of more than half of all injuries to Canadians 65 years and over. Four in 10 seniors who fall will fracture a hip.
A fall causing injury is most likely to occur in or near the home. Many falls occur in the bathroom and on stairs. The most common risk factors are poor balance and hazards around the home.
Wearing shoes with good support, using cordless phones, and exercising regularly are just a few of the ways you can reduce the risk of falling. Click on these links for more information on preventing falls and living safely:
Hip and Knee Replacements
Hip and knee replacements are among the most successful surgeries. They are a proven means of alleviating pain and restoring function, mobility and quality of life.
There are different procedure types, including replacement of the total joint, partial joint replacement and revision surgery to repair or replace an artificial joint.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and the leading cause of hip and knee replacements. It causes the joints to degenerate, resulting in pain and stiffness and, in extreme cases, deformity. Joint replacement is the only effective treatment for end-stage osteoarthritis.
Canada’s demographics – a population that is aging, living longer and becoming increasingly overweight – indicate the burden of osteoarthritis will continue to grow.
Knee replacement rates are growing fastest in females age 45 to 54, more than tripling in the 10-year period to 2006-07. Hip replacement rates are growing fastest in men age 45 to 54, increasing 140% over the same period.
Alberta’s New Model for Hip and Knee Replacement
Alberta is rolling out an improved model of care for hip and knee replacement patients. The new model is designed to give patients a higher quality of care and to make the delivery of care more efficient.
Based on best evidence from around the world, it sets out standardized practices and protocols extending from primary care through to surgery, recovery and rehabilitation. Patient care is fully integrated and delivered by a multidisciplinary team.
All services, other than family doctor care and surgery, are provided in or through a single-purpose hip and knee clinic and coordinated by a case manager in the clinic.
A multidisciplinary team in the clinic assesses the patient’s need and fitness for surgery and, if surgery is required, helps them prepare. Surgical patients sign a contract, which can contain specific commitments to achieve optimal readiness, such as weight-reduction, strengthening and smoking cessation. The team prepares a treatment plan for patients who do not need surgery and sends to the plan to the referring doctor.
Home care services for the post-surgical period can be arranged at the clinic.
The model was tested in a 12-month clinical trial involving 1,638 patients who had total hip or knee replacement. The trial, which ended in April 2006, proved the new model superior to the conventional way of treating hip and knee patients.
Click on this link for more information on the clinical trial.
