Aging Changes in the Bones - Muscles - Joints
Alternate Names : Muscle Weakness Associated with Aging, Osteoporosis and Aging
 See all Pictures & Images
Effect of changes
Bones become more brittle and may break more easily. Height decreases, primarily caused by shortening of the trunk/spine.
Inflammation, pain, stiffness and deformity may result from breakdown of the joint structures. Almost all elderly people are affected by joint changes, ranging from minor stiffness to severe arthritis.
The posture may become progressively stooped (bent) and the knees and hips more flexed. The neck may become tilted, and the shoulders may narrow while the pelvis, on the other hand, may become wider.
Movement slows and may become limited. The walking pattern (gait) becomes slower and shorter. Walking may become unsteady, and there is less arm swinging. Fatigue occurs more readily, and overall energy may be reduced.
Strength and endurance change. Loss of muscle mass reduces strength. However, endurance may be enhanced by changes in the muscle fibers. Aging athletes with healthy hearts and lungs may find that performance improves in events that require endurance, and decreases slightly in events that require short bursts of high-speed performance.
|
