What Do I Need to Know About My Bones And Joints?
November 15, 2011 in Bone & Joint
Bone is a living, growing tissue. Bones are made up of collagen and calcium. Collagen is protein that makes bones flexible, while calcium is a mineral that makes bones strong. About 99% of calcium stored in the body is contained in bones, while the other 1% is in the blood.
Do bones grow?
Yes, bones are constantly remodeling themselves. Bone is constantly being broken down and removed from the body. New bone is created to replace old bone. This process of breaking down and rebuilding bone is regulated by hormones and chemicals in the body like estrogen (in women), testosterone (in men) and calcium and vitamin D.
When is bone growth most important?
As a child and adolescent, your bones are constantly growing. Once you are around 30 years old, you begin to lose bone for the remainder of your life. The loss of bone is gradual, but becomes significant over time. At around the age of 30, you have reached your peak bone mass. If you failed to reach this peak bone mass at 30 years of age, then bone losses in later life will be even more significant. Failure to build optimal bone mass in childhood and adolescent years is often due to insufficient consumption of calcium and vitamin D.
What happens to bones to cause osteoporosis?
Once you reach the age of 30, you will start to lose bone mass. If your body breaks bone down faster than it can rebuild, then osteoporosis may occur. It may also develop if you did not reach your peak bone mass in your 20s.
What are joints?
Joints are areas where two bones are attached to allow movement. A joint is formed by cartilage and connective tissue. The cartilage acts as a cushion between the bones. The connective tissue (like tendons) holds the bones together.
What happens to joints as you age?
The cartilage in joints deteriorates over time from a lifetime of use. When this “wear and tear” occurs, more bone to bone contact occurs. The result is inflammation in the joint, which causes osteoarthritis.
Changes in connective tissue over your lifetime results in joints losing their flexibility and range of motion.
