Skeletal System Diseases

The human body is made up of nearly 206 bones that protect and preserve the shape of the soft tissues in the body. Our skeletal system comprises bone and cartilage that control and direct internal pressure and provide stability anchoring points for other soft tissues. The bones in our body are joined to each other through ligaments which are tough bands of connective tissue and the muscles are connected to the bones through tendons. Together both muscles and bones form the leverage system that help us to move and perform our daily work. The skeletal system not only protects vital organs, like, brain, spinal cord, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, etc. but also acts as a reservoir of minerals, like, calcium and phosphorous which are supplied to various body parts through blood. However, the bones become weak or tenuous due to aging, poor eating habits, deficiency of nutrients and minerals or a prior accident or injury, due to which the risk of fractures or long term skeletal system diseases or disorders also increases. Diseases of skeletal system are not only painful but they also make simple activities, like, lifting a pencil from the ground or bending down to tie shoe laces extremely difficult.

Muscular and Skeletal System Diseases
Following is a list of skeletal system diseases along with their causes and effects.

• Bursitis: It's a disorder that causes pain in the body's joints especially shoulder and hip joints due to over activity of an arm or leg. Bursitis mainly occurs due to inflammation of the bursa, small fluid-filled bags which act as lubricating surfaces for muscles to move over bones.
• Osteoporosis: Of the many human skeletal system diseases, osteoporosis is the most common disorder that results due to loss of bone tissue. It's more commonly observed in elderly people and in women, and occurs due to less calcium and phosphorous deposition in the bones.
• Sprain: It's an extremely painful injury to a ligament or tissue that covers a joint. It results due to a sudden wrench that stretches or tears the tissues of the ligaments and causes swelling in the affected area.
• Spina Bifida: It's a spinal defect which is present at the time of childbirth. In this, the spinal cord does not develop properly and the vertebrae and skin are unable to shape themselves around it. It results from an error in the development of the embryo due to intake of alcohol, excessive medications or exposure to extreme heat, a month after a woman becomes pregnant.
• Arthritis: It's a common joint disorder characterized by inflammation of the joints, pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in the swollen part. It may occur due to aging, injury, infection, mineral deficiency or hereditary factors. Arthritis is most commonly 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.
• Scoliosis: It's a skeletal system disease in which the person's spine is curved from side to side like a 's' shape. The disorder becomes apparent during adolescence and usually affects girls more than boys. Read more on scoliosis: causes, symptoms and treatment.
• Osteomyelitis: It's a bone infection caused due to a certain strain of the Staphylococcus bacteria which is transported by the blood to the bones from infected areas. Osteomyelitis is characterized by severe pain in the infected bone, fever, chills, nausea and weakness.
• Talipes Equinovarus: Also called clubfoot, it's one out of many muscular skeletal system diseases present at the time of birth. It's a disorder in which the foot is bent downward and inward and so the person can walk only on the toes or sometimes the foot is bent upward and outward and the person can use only the heel for walking.
• Tendinitis: Also called rheumatism, it's an inflammation or irritation of the tendon, involving stiffness or pain in the muscles or joints.
• Rickets: It's a skeletal system disease that causes bowed legs in children due to deficiency of vitamin D and calcium.
• Kyphosis: Also known as hunchback, it's a forward bending of the spine due to deformation of the bones in the upper part of the spine. Diseases that can lead to kyphosis are tuberculosis, syphilis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Poliomyelitis: Often known as polio or infantile paralysis, it's an acute infection caused by a virus that may attack the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord, causing paralysis.
  

Read more on disorders of the skeletal system.

These were the skeletal system diseases and disorders that can occur in people of all age groups. However, by following a healthy diet enriched with vitamins and minerals and including weight bearing, low impact activities in our daily exercise routine, we can keep our bones strong and healthy.