There are over 206 bones in the human body, each with a unique purpose.
About 35 percent of elderly people fall every year.
Exercise, even for people in their 90s, is the single best way to prevent falls.
Older people fall due to side effects from medication, tripping over objects in the home, and lack of physical activity.
The risk of bone and joint injury can be reduced by exercising at least 30 minutes every day.
Annually, a half million kids are seriously injured playing in their neighborhood playgrounds.
Musculoskelatal conditions affect hundreds of millions of people, costing an estimated $254 billion each year in the United States alone.
More than 63 percent of injuries in this country are to the musculoskeletal system.
One out of seven Americans reports a musculoskelatal impairment.
The risk of carpal tunnel syndrome can be decreased by avoiding obesity, caffeine, smoking, and occupations where using strong gripping and vibrating tools make up a significant part of the work day.
Arthritis
More than half of the people affected by arthritis are under the age of 65.
43 Million Americans have arthritis or other joint inflammation.
By 2020, it is estimated that 60 million people in the United states will have arthritis.
Arthritis costs the United States economy $65 million in lost wages and medical care.
Arthritis results in 44 million outpatient visits and almost 650,000 hospitalizations annually.
Arthritis prevention and treatment depends upon:
Early diagnosis
Appropriate management
Physical activity
Weight management
Physical and occupational therapy
Rest
Joint replacement when necessary
Hip fractures
Hip fractures occur in one out of every one hundred women over the age of 75.
200,000 adults over the age of 65 fracture their hip every year.
Hip fracture is more common in women than men.
There is a 20 to 30 percent chance that a person who has fractured his or her hip will die within a year of the accident.
Tips to protect the elderly against falls in the home:
Make sure that rugs are fixed, not mobile
Install night lights
Consider installing railings close to the toilet and shower
Remove anything that obstructs smooth passage through the home
Wear shoes and slippers with non-skid soles
Just for baby boomers
Baby boomers experience more than one million sports related injuries annually.
Collectively, sports related injuries sustained by individuals born between 1946 and 1964 have been named "Boomeritis."
Tips to Help the "Weekend Warrior" Stay Healthy (from the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons):
Know your personal capacity and control your intensity accordingly.
Know the specific risks of any activity in which you are participating.
If you have a prior injury, seek out knowledgeable direction and training to get back in the game.
Joint replacement
More than 90 percent of joint replacement patients are otherwise healthy and do not need prolonged acute, high-maintenance hospital care.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects 28 million American men and women, causing their bones to deteriorate and weaken.
More than 18 million Americans have low bone mass, placing them at risk for osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis contributes to 1.5 million fractures each year.
The estimated cost of osteoporosis and associated fractures is $38 million each day, or nearly $14 billion per year!
Get plenty of exercise. Walking, jogging and dancing or any other weight-bearing exercise (3-4 hours/week) can build strong bones and are a good investment in future bone health.
Get an adequate intake of Vitamin D and calcium.
Do not smoke or drink excessive amounts of alcohol.
