Musculoskeletal system: Musculoskeletal disorders

Musculoskeletal disorders are disorders of the bones, joints, and the skeletal muscles, affecting movement. Therefore, any daily activity and quality of life is also affected.

They make individuals prone to falls and injuries, and dependant on others’ assistance in everyday life activities. Some of these disorders are osteoporosis, arthritis, and muscular dystrophy.

Osteoporosis is a disorder of the bones that causes them to lose their strength and mass, giving them a porous, or sponge-like, appearance.

This makes them very frail and susceptible to breaking. The most commonly affected bones are of the vertebrae, which can get compressed, leading to a height reduction, back pain, and forward bending of the upper spine, causing a deformity called a dowager’s hump.

Other commonly affected bones are the hip bones, long bones of the extremities, and the wrist bones. Sometimes, the bones might be so fragile that even normal daily activities, like walking down the stairs, can result in a fracture.

Factors that increase clients’ risk for developing osteoporosis include: advanced age; family history of osteoporosis; small stature; diet that lacks calcium and proteins; vitamin D deficiency that decreases calcium absorption from food; eating disorders, like anorexia nervosa; smoking and consuming alcohol.

Other risk factors include immobility; sedentary lifestyle; medications, like corticosteroids; and other conditions, like thyroid dysfunction.

Menopause in biological females is also an important risk factor because there’s decreased production of estrogen: a hormone that has protective effects on the bones.

As a nursing assistant, you should encourage your clients that are at higher risk for osteoporosis to take precautionary measures in order to delay or even prevent its development.

These include regular exercise, like walking and lifting weights; proper diet rich in calcium and proteins, like dairy products; vitamin D supplements; and avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption.