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Bone And Joint Health And How It Effects The Elderly Population

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Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health Organization as “a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitecture deterioration of bone tissue with consequential increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture” This condition is a result of an imbalance in the normal processes of “ bone formation” and “bone reabsorption” which work together to maintain bone strength.” (Leyland, S. 2013) The purpose of this paper is to educate the reader about bone and joint health and how it effects the elderly population. The topic of this paper is osteoporosis.
Issue and Significance to Healthy Aging
According to Mayo Clinic signs and symptoms are not evident in the early stages of the disease but when bone loss has occurred can include back pain caused by fractures or collapsed vertebra, loss of height over time, a stooped posture, and a bone fracture that occurs much more easily than expected. Older adults risk is also increased due to other age-related factors such as “poor balance, poor body mechanics, and gait disturbances.” (Davis, G., White, T., & Yang, A., 2006). The risk for osteoporosis is increased if individuals have gone through early menopause, have been on corticosteroids for several months at a time or if either of their parents have had hip fractures. (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014) Osteoporosis can be affected by how much bone mass has been obtained in youth, as it peaks during early 20’s, thus the more bone mass acquired at an early age,

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