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?

 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!

4 exercises to strengthen your knees

Knee pains and pains in the joints are not restricted to a certain age group anymore. Younger people of today face this problem too. To stay active all your life and escape the severe aches associated with weakening of muscles, joint pains or arthritis, you must start now. The only way to keep your knees fine and working is to exercise. 
4 moves that help you strengthen your knees.
1. Leg lifts (inner thigh) - lie on any one side, lay your head on the arm of the side below you. Make sure this hand is straight above your head, touching the ground. Keep your legs straight, one above the other. Lift the leg on top a few inches above, hold for few seconds and bring it back. Do this for 10 times and then with the other leg, on the other side. This exercise strengthens your inner thighs, eventually strengthening the knees.
2. Hip raises: lie flat on your back, your shoulders touching the ground. Bend your legs comfortable, your feet resting firmly on the ground. Raise your hips and thighs so that from your head to feet, you form an angle. Wait in this position for about 10 seconds, lower your hip until it touches the ground. Repeat for ten counts.
3. Lunges: stand straight. Take a step ahead with your right leg. Left leg remains in its place. With your back straight, bend your knees so that both are at 90 degrees. Go back to standing position; take your right leg back to where it was. Do the same step with your left leg. Repeat both sides ten times.
4. Bent leg extensions: this is pretty easy and all that you need to do it sit on a chair comfortably, with your back straight first. Your feet firmly flat on the ground in front of you, lift the right leg straight extending to the front. Make sure your thighs stay on the chair. Bring your leg back to the original position, firmly planted on the ground. Do the same with your left leg. Repeat 10 times on both sides.
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The Only 4 Moves That Strengthen Your KNEES

Ayurveda is a very old system of medicine, which originated in India. Using herbs found in nature to cure various illnesses, knee pain can also be permanently cured with this method indigenous to India. It reduces knee pain caused by various illnesses including arthritis, inflammation of the cartilage and wearing of the patella among others. Here are some common Ayurvedic remedies, which help reduce knee pain:

1. Alfalfa: Alfalfa is medically known as Medicago Sativa. Alfalfa is excellent for making sure that your joint pain reduces, when taken in liquid form four times a day.

2. Ashwagandha: Ashwagandha is medically known as Withania Somnifera. In the West, Ashwagandha is popularly known as Winter Cherry. Also, it has a lot of therapeutic properties, which include reducing joint pains. 

3. Banyan: The Banyan tree's medical name is Ficus Benghalensis. It has a sap very similar to the form of rubber known as latex is derived from the Banyan tree. The Banyan tree's sap is externally applied over the joints and the pain usually disappears after a few regular applications. 

4. Bishop's weed: The medical name for Bishop's weed is Trachyspermum Ammi. The oil extracted from this herb is usually applied to the knees to reduce the intensity of such knee pains.

5. Celery: The medical name for celery is Apium Graveolens. Celery is not only an effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and associated pains in the knees, but it is also helpful in treating gout. It is usually agreed upon that this particular treatment is usually long lasting because of its alkaline nature.

6. Dandelion: Dandelion's biological name is Taraxacum Officinale. It is rich in magnesium and is crucial for the correct mineralization of the bones. This mineralization allows the bones to become stronger and also prevents knee pain.

7.  Garlic: The medical name for garlic is allium sativum. Five to six cloves eaten everyday has proved to reduce knee pains.

8. Ginger: Ginger is biologically called Zingiber Officinale. These can be easily included in your diet and go a long way in curbing knee pain.

Ayurveda and Knee Pain

Majority of bone tumours are benign, meaning they are localised and do not spread. Since benign tumours do not metastasize, they are not forms of cancer. Despite not being malignant, the severity of their presence should not be ignored as they may cause a lot of pain and lead to other problems such as damaged bones and fractures.

Benign Bone Tumors

Osteochondromas: These form over 40 per cent of all benign bone tumours. They are mostly found in children and teenagers. Osteochondroma is a growth abnormality and they are found in the growing ends of long bones. An osteochondroma might grow separately or might be accompanied by other similar tumours.
Osteoclastomas: They are also called giant cell tumours of the bone. They are common and are found in the epiphysis of long bones and around the knee.
Osteoid Osteoma: These grow mostly in adolescents and very rarely in adults above 50. They primarily grow in the legs but they might also be found in other bones in the body.
Enchondroma: It is a bone tumour that starts in the cartilage. It is mostly found in the cartilage of the inner lining of bones. Small long bones of the feet and the hands are affected the most. Teenagers get more affected than other age group.
Osteoblastoma: These are slow growing tumours that take about two years to get diagnosed. An osteoblastoma makes the surrounding bones weaker as they dissolve them and make them more susceptible to fracture caused by small injuries. Men are twice as more likely to be affected by an osteoblastoma than women. Surgery is essential in all cases of osteoblastoma as they destroy healthy functional bone and grow in size with time.
In rare cases, these have also known to become malignant over time, despite their benign nature. It affects people under 30 mostly.

Malignant Bone Tumours

Osteosarcoma: It affects the hip, knees and shoulders of mostly children and teenagers. It is also referred to as osteogenic sarcoma.
Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumours: These generate from medullary cavities and can also grow in blood vessels and adipose tissues. It primarily affects children and teenagers.
Chondrosarcoma: It usually affects the hips, pelvis and shoulders of middle aged people.

5 Most Common Types Of Benign Tumours!

Causes and symptoms of knee pain

Knee pain is characterized by a feeling of pain in the knee joint caused by injury or overuse. The knee joint consists of small bone structures, the kneecap, supporting ligaments and cartilage of the knee. This joint bears the full weight of the body, which makes it very vulnerable to injury.

Causes of knee pain

Knee pain is usually caused by injuries to the knee such as exposure to a direct force on the knee, abnormal twisting of the knee or falling on your knees. Some causes of knee pain are -

Knee strains and sprains - Overworking the knee joints can damage the tissues of the knee joint resulting in knee sprains and strains

Osteoarthritis - it is condition where the protective cartilage around the kneecap is damaged, resulting in knee pain

Bursitis - Excessive movement of the knee or kneeling down for extended periods can irritate the bursa (a fluid sac below the skin above the knee joint) that causes swelling and pain, thereby giving rise to this condition

Gout - This condition is characterized by the accumulation of uric acid in crystal form around the knee joint, causing inflammation and pain

Tendon disorders - Tendons connect the muscles to the bones, and overworking the knee can cause the tendons around the knee to become sore and painful

Kneecap dislocation - Injuries may cause the kneecap to shift out of its position, this causes swelling and pain in the knee joint

Symptoms of knee pain

Severe knee pain can restrict movements such as walking or standing. The symptoms vary according to the extent of the damage suffered by the knee. Most common symptoms of knee pain are problems in climbing stairs, inability to extend the knees, limping and swelling of the knee joint. In some cases, knee pain may also cause fever.

Causes and Symptoms of Knee Pain

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