If you are the on the wrong side of your fifties, then you will know the importance of regular checkups to the orthopedist. Aging related physical changes such as greying hair and wrinkles are a few things that you can cope with easily, however, when it comes to the health of your bones and muscles, you need to be very careful. You need to be particular about being active, as it can help reverse or reduce the risks of most of the bone disorders that you may suffer from. Ageing affects both the muscles and bones, but not always in the same manner. So, it is important that you understand how each is affected by ageing.

Changes in your muscles due to aging
As you age, your muscles tend to lose strength and size. This can make you prone to fatigue, weakness and a decrease in your tolerance levels to exercise. The various factors that play a role in this are:

Modifications in your nervous system can impair the ability of the muscle to contract.
The muscle fibers in the body reduce both in size and number.
The replacement rate of the muscle tissue in the body falls.
Changes in your bones due to aging
Ageing impacts the structure of the bone and leads to a loss of the bone tissue. Aging causes low bone mass, thus rendering them weak. This means a simple fall can have a serious effect on your bones.
The various causes that can bring about these changes are:

Loss of vital minerals such as calcium
Being physically inactive
Undergoing hormonal changes in the body such as menopause, wherein the body loses minerals from the bone tissues. In case of men, progressive decline of sex hormones can lead to changes in the bone structure.
Common conditions that affect your musculoskeletal system in your old age:

Osteoporosis: This disorder results from a loss of bone density resulting in fragile bones. This makes the bones highly susceptible to fractures and breakage.
Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disorder that usually develops after the age of 40; here, the immune system of the body attacks the body tissues, thus leading to inflammation in your joints.
Osteoarthritis: It is a disorder of the joints which is caused by deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the joints.

Old Age - How It Impacts Your Muscles & Bones?

Most bone fractures mend very easily with proper medical treatment and rest. However, in rare cases, a fracture caused by trauma may not mend even after adequate treatment. When a broken bone fails to heal, it is known as non-union. There are two major reasons for non-union:

  Bone lacks adequate stability

All broken bones require stability to heal. In case of a fracture, doctors place the dislocated bone in its original place and use an external device to hold the broken part in place. Usually, this stability is provided by a splint or cast, but can also be offered by frames and rods as well. However, if the broken bone lacks the required support, it may not set or heal properly, leading to the non-union.

  Fracture lacks proper blood supply

Even with proper stability, a broken bone requires a proper blood supply to start the healing process. The blood carries oxygen and other chemicals that aid in the repair of the bone and makes it crucial during the recovery stage. However, if the blood supply is disrupted, the bone cannot heal and leads to non-union.



Risk factors of non-union:

You are more likely to suffer from non-union if one or more of the following is true in your case-

  People who engage in cigarette smoking and any other form of nicotine addiction have a higher risk of non-unions after a fracture
  Older people can often face non-union, which is why fractures may take longer to heal in these people
  Severe anaemia can often restrict proper blood flow to the broken bone, thus inhibiting the healing procedure
  Similarly, people suffering from diabetes face a greater risk of non-unions
  Lack of proper nutrition may also be blamed for the non-union
  Non-union risks may increase because of side effects from certain medication, such as prednisone, ibuprofen, and aspirin. Consult your doctor in such a case, so that proper precautions can be taken accordingly.

Non-surgical treatment can be used for treating the non-union. Electromagnetic and ultrasound waves are passed through the skin and into the affected bone, in order to treat the non-union. In most cases, this treatment is very effective in curing the fracture. However, if the non-surgical treatment proves ineffective, surgical procedures, such as bone grafts and allograft can be utilized.

Trauma And Nonunion - The Various Risks Involved With It!

Bones are similar to a porous framework which is filled with minerals that make it hard and strong. With age, there is gradual degradation and the mineralized portion is lost, thereby leading to thinning of the bone. The word osteoporosis literally translates to porous bones, which is due to the gradual demineralisation. In addition to the natural ageing process, there are other diseases that can accelerate the demineralization process.

Women are more prone to demineralisation, and after the age of 40, they should take extra precaution to slow down the onset of the condition. The following are some ways to improve bone health and halt osteoporosis in the long run-

Diet: Ensure that your diet has sufficient amounts of vitamin D and calcium. Though calcium is the essential mineral for bone formation, vitamin D is required for the absorption of calcium, and therefore both these elements play a vital role in maintaining the quality of the bones in our body. Most people require about 1,000 mg of calcium and about 500 units of vitamin D for optimal bone health. This requirement goes up slightly in postmenopausal women.

Sun Exposure: In most people, exposure to the sun allows the body to make vitamin D, but careful sun protection prevents this from happening. Also, with age, the body s ability to form intrinsic vitamin D also declines. The body, therefore, relies on supplements. Most dairy products are good sources of calcium. In addition, spinach, salmon, turnips, and broccoli are some calcium-rich foods. Supplements of calcium carbonate or calcium citrate can be taken if your diet is lacking in calcium. Vitamin D also should be included in the supplementation. The treatment for osteoporosis is incomplete without these two supplements.

Exercise With Weights: The constructive tension that exercise puts on the body helps in bone building, whatever the age may be, which prevents the onset of osteoporosis. Any exercise which improves muscle mass strengthens the bones, and puts stress on the bones is advisable. Since the fractured area due to osteoporosis mainly includes the spine, lower back exercises, yoga, tai chi, and abdominal exercises all work wonders. Pick any of these and do them for 30 minutes three times a week.

Quit Smoking: Continuing to smoke while taking osteoporosis medications is completely useless. Nicotine negates all the effects which defeat the purpose of taking the medication and is as good as taking no medication at all. So if you want the bone thinning to stop, stop smoking.

Alcohol Consumption: While a drink or two per week is permissible, more than this can harm the bones significantly.

Constant Health Watch: Talk to your doctor about how other routine medications (if any) can affect your bone health. Also, identify how frequently you should check your bone mineral density and stick to the schedule.

Bone health and osteoporosis can be managed with some conscious efforts.

Bone Health And Osteoporosis - Know More About Them!

 Movement disorders    the term refers to a class of neurological conditions, which lead to either an increased/abnormal movement or a scarcity of involuntary and voluntary movements.

Types of Movement Disorders- 
The most common types of movement disorders are  
  Myalgia   More commonly known as muscle pain, myalgia originates in any part of the body. A person with myalgia will experience achiness and soreness in the muscles, which may range from severe to mild.

Myalgia does not occur from an underlying disease. Rather, the pain develops over time, mostly due to prolonged sitting, lying down, a strenuous physical activity, strains or sprains.

  Muscular dystrophy   This refers to a group of genetic disorders that lead to weakness and loss of muscle mass. The abnormal genes cause muscle degeneration and usually begins in early childhood. Myotonic, Facioscapulohumeral (FSHD), and Limb-girdle are a few forms of muscular dystrophy.

Muscular dystrophy is characterized by symptoms like   difficulty jumping and running, muscle stiffness and pain, walking on toes, waddling gait, trouble swallowing and breathing etc.

  Dystonia   The condition involves continuous involuntary muscle contractions with repetitive, twisting movements. Dystonia may affect either a specific body part (known as focal dystonia) or the full body (known as generalized dystonia).

  Huntington s Disease   This is an inherited, neurodegenerative condition, where the brain s nerve cells break down over time. Huntington s disease usually kicks in, in the 30s or 40s. The disease results in psychiatric and cognitive symptoms   amnesia, confusion, slowness in activity etc.

  Multiple System Atrophy   This is a rare neurological disorder, which affects both the autonomic nervous system   the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary actions like digestion and blood pressure   and movement. Multiple System Atrophy leads to movement disorders like Parkinsonism or ataxia.

Symptoms of this disorder include   double or blurred vision, visual disturbances, unsteady gait, loss of balance etc.

  Tourette Syndrome   This is a disorder of the nervous system, which occurs usually between one s childhood and teenage years. The disorder is associated with vocal sounds (vocal tics) and repetitive movements (motor tics).

Physiotherapy for Movement Disorders-
In most cases, movement disorders cannot be completely cured. However, with physiotherapy, you may be able to manage the symptoms and live a better life.

Physiotherapy is based on a few physical activities or mild exercises that help improve your joint movement and builds muscle strength. This particular treatment approach centres on  

  Exercises based on daily tasks that improve muscle strength
  Activities that improve your balance and reduce the chances of falling
  Exercises to gain control over the uncontrolled movement of legs, arms, and head
  Correct posture while standing or sitting to reduce pain and increase comfort
  Cueing, repetition and movement strategies to reduce the effects of freezing
  Participating in certain functional activities that make it easier for you to move around
  The repetitive movement to trigger pathways to the brain and improve movement accuracy
  Exercise to reduce fatigue and increase stamina
  Hydrotherapy and relaxation therapy to ease muscle stiffness

Neurological disorders affect people in different ways. Physiotherapy for movement disorders is tailored according to the patient s goal and needs so that they are able to achieve maximum physical potential.

Movement Disorders - Its Types, Symptoms & Physiotherapy Treatment!

Clubfoot is a deformity of the foot in infants. The condition is usually present from birth. This happens when the tissues linking the muscles to the tendons are shorter than usual, as a result of which the infant s foot appears twisted and out of shape. The condition can be mild or severe, depending on the symptoms. Often times, babies who are born with clubfoot have it in both the legs.

How to identify if your child has clubfoot?

Since the condition is present from birth, the symptoms are also easily observable. Identifying the following signs can help detect if your child is born with clubfoot-

  A foot that turns downward and inward and toes that point towards the opposite foot
  The affected foot may appear half an inch shorter than the normal foot size
  The heel of the affected foot may be smaller in size than it normally should be
  The calf muscle on the affected leg will be underdeveloped (appear slightly smaller)
  If the condition is severe, the foot may be twisted upside down

Despite its unusual shape, clubfoot does not cause pain or discomfort. The doctor will most likely notice the symptoms after the infant s birth. He/she will recommend appropriate treatment of the condition, or refer to an orthopaedic who specializes in muscle and bone ailments.

What is the treatment of clubfoot?

Clubfoot is curable so parents need not worry about their child living with a lifelong deformity.

Depending on the severity of the condition, the orthopaedic will either use devices, resort to stretching methods, or will recommend surgery.

  Ponseti Method (stretching and casting) - It is the standard treatment worldover. It starts at birth or anytime within two weeks of age and has best results in younger kids. It involves stretching the clubfoot and casting it in correct position several times over the months to restore the foot shape.
  French Functional Method (stretching and taping) - The doctor will stretch the affected foot and tape it in position several times over a couple of months to realign the shape. It, however, has very limites following.
  Surgery - Surgeries may be needed in older neglected kids or adults. The surgeon performs a surgical procedure (Achilles tenotomy) to lengthen the tendon of the clubfoot and realigns the joints and bones. Following the surgery, the child will need to be in a cast for about 2 months. Further, to prevent the recurrence of the condition, the child will be advised to wear braces for a year at least.
  Devices - They are adjunctive maintenance devices which are used by doctors in treatment of clubfoot. They are applied to the body to stabilize and limit or protect the movement of the damaged joint.

Parents should seek medical intervention if their baby is born with clubfoot. If the condition is not treated early, the child may face difficulty walking, or may even develop other disorders affecting the joints, like arthritis.

Clubfoot - Ways To Identify & Treat It Well!

Bone loss is a silent condition that occurs over the years as you age. It is a condition when the bones become weak and fragile. Many people may not even know that that they are suffering bone loss until it leads to serious conditions such as Osteoporosis. Bone loss resulting in osteoporosis is more in women than men. It is estimated that one of every three women above 50 years suffers from osteoporosis related fracture.

What causes bone loss?
Bones are made of minerals, calcium, and phosphate. Bones are being constantly destroyed and refoemed within the body. As long as your body balances the process, your bones stay strong and healthy. However when the bone decay out grows the bone formation process, bone loss and a host of other problems occur. Some of the common causes bone loss are:

With growing age, the body starts to reabsorb phosphate and calcium instead of keeping it in the bones. This makes the bones weak. When the process continues for a long time, it leads to osteoporosis.
If your diet doesnot contain high calcium foods, then your bones donot get enough calcium.
Smoking and drinking can make your bones weak.
Medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease can cause bone loss.
Sometimes medicines can also result in bone loss.
What are the symptoms of bone loss?

Receding gums: Our teeth are connected to the jaw bone and if the jaw starts losing bone then it causes receding of gums. Loss of jaw bone is linked to lower bone mineral density.
Decreased grip strength: Hand grips strength decreases due to low bone density.
Weak and brittle fingernails: You may find your fingernails have become weak and brittle.
Cramps,muscle pain, and joint ache: Pain in muscles and joints are an important indicator of vitamin D deficiency, which is a vital component for healthy bones. Cramps in legs and foot at night are an indicator of deficiency of potassium and calcium in the bones.
Height loss: This is a common problem that comes with age. But there are other factors that lead to height loss such as poor posture and fractured vertebra. Poor posture can cause bone loss.
Overall low fitness: If you notice that your overall fitness has declined which includes your balance, muscle strength then you may be suffering from bone loss.
Can homeopathy treat osteoporosis?
Homeopathy has the most effective and holistic approach to treat osteoporosis. Homeopathy doesn t intend to cure bone loss, instead, it tries to treat the underlying health condition that leads to osteoporosis. Some of the important homeopathy remedies are:

Calcaria Phos: It is a very effective remedy for osteoporosis It helps in increasing the absorption of calcium from the food. It is a bone builder and creates new cells.
Calcaria Iod: This is a great remedy to treat loss of bones as well as loss of muscles and fat.
Alendronate: Alendronate is given to patients suffering from osteoporosis which is caused by steroid treatment. It reduces the release of calcium from the bones to the blood.
Calcitonin - Salmon: Calcitonin-Salmon is a man-made hormone used to treat osteoporosis.

Bone Loss - Can Homeopathy Help Treating it

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