Injuries or Disorders of the Skeletal System

Our skeletal system forms the framework for the muscles and protects and preserves the shape of the soft tissues in the body. It is made up of bones and cartilage that control and direct the internal pressure and provide stability anchoring points in the body. The bones are connected to each other through ligaments (tough bands of connective tissue) and the muscles are connected to the bones through tendons (a band of inelastic tissue). Together both muscles and bones form the leverage system that enables us to walk and perform our daily activities. The skeletal system not only protects different vital organs in the body, like, brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc. but also serves as a reservoir of minerals, like, calcium and phosphorous which are distributed to various body parts through blood.

Due to aging, deficiency of vitamins and minerals, poor eating habits, a prior accident or injury, the bones in our body become weak and fragile and so may get vulnerable to long term injuries or disorders of the skeletal system. The disorders of the skeletal system are not only painful but also make us incapable of performing simple routine tasks involving mobility.

Skeletal System Disorders
Injuries or disorders of the skeletal system can occur due to various causes, leading to temporary or permanent effects. Following is a list of the prominent ones.

Fracture: Of the many skeletal system injuries, fracture is the most common, which occurs due to breakage of a bone. The breakage can be complete or partial, depending upon the intensity or severity of the impact and other pathological factors. Read more on different types of bone fractures.

Bursitis: It's a disorder that causes pain in the body's joints especially shoulder and hip joints due to excessive activity of an arm or leg. Bursitis primarily occurs due to inflammation of the bursa, small fluid-filled bags which serve as lubricating surfaces for muscles to move over bones.

Sprain: Sprain is an severe painful injury to a ligament or tissue that covers a joint. It is one of the most common types of injuries of the skeletal system that occurs due to a sudden wrench that stretches or tears the tissues of the ligaments, causing swelling in the affected area. Read more on how to treat a sprain.

Spina Bifida: It's a spinal defect present at the time of childbirth. In this, the spinal cord does not grow properly and the vertebrae and skin are unable to shape themselves around it. Spina Bifida results from an error in the development of the embryo due to intake of alcohol, excessive medications or over exposure to extreme heat, a month after a woman becomes pregnant.

Osteoporosis: Of the many skeletal system disorders, osteoporosis is the most common disorder that occurs due to loss of bone tissue, hormonal imbalance, genetic disposition, etc. It's commonly observed in elderly people and in women, and results due to reduction in calcium and phosphorous deposition in the bones.

Osteomyelitis: It's an infection of bone marrow that occurs due to a certain strain of the Staphylococcus bacteria, transported by the blood to the bones from infected areas. Osteomyelitis is characterized by intense pain in the infected bone, fever, chills, nausea and weakness.

Arthritis: Arthritis is a common joint disorder caused due to inflammation of the joints in the body. It's characterized by pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in the infected part. Aging, injury, infection, mineral deficiency or hereditary factors are some common causes of arthritis. It is primarily observed in old people as the cartilage covering the joints (to protect the bones from getting damaged or ruptured due to friction) does not develop properly.

Osteoarthritis: It's a degenerative joint disease caused due to breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints. Osteoarthritis usually occurs in synovial joints (in the limbs) where the articular cartilage wears away, increasing friction, pain and stiffness in the joints during normal movement.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: It's a chronic, systematic inflammatory disorder of the synovial lining of joints. The joints are initially painful, swollen and are usually affected symmetrically but as rheumatoid arthritis progresses, the ligaments supporting the joints get ruptured, causing erosion of the bone and long term deformity of the joints.

Scoliosis: It's a skeletal system disorder which causes an abnormal curve ('s' or 'c' shape) of the spine or backbone. In most cases, the cause of scoliosis is unknown (idiopathic), however it becomes apparent during adolescence and usually affects girls more than boys. Read more on scoliosis: causes, symptoms and treatment.

Rickets: Rickets is a skeletal system disorder that causes bowed legs in children due to deficiency of vitamin D and calcium.

Kyphosis: Also called hunchback, it's a forward bending of the spine due to deformation of the bones in the upper part of the spine leading to a slouching posture. It's a spinal deformity caused due to degenerative diseases like tuberculosis, syphilis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Talipes equinovarus, tendinitis, poliomyelitis, etc, are some other types of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system. Now that we know that our skeletal system performs myriads of functions, it's essential to keep it strong and in good shape by following a balanced diet enriched with vitamins and minerals and including weight bearing, low impact activities in our daily exercise routine.