Joint Health
Human joints come in many shapes and sizes and allow us to move and
carry out normal activities of daily living. Without joints, we would
be rigid and immobile. But they are also often injured, causing pain and
discomfort.
The most commonly injured joints are the knees,
shoulders,
ankles and spine. Approximately 30 million doctor visits a year are due
to knee and shoulder injuries alone. Some 150 million to 200 million
cases of back pain send people to the doctor every year-and many of
those are related to joint injuries.
How do joints work?
Joints are designed to withstand the
loads placed on them and provide a full range of motion. Each joint is
made up of at least two surfaces that touch each other and allow for
movement. These include ball-and-socket joints such as the hip; hinge
joints such as the knee and elbow; and gliding joints, such as those in
the spine.
The bones that make up the joint allow movement, but it is the
muscles that pull the bones that produce the movement. Muscles are
attached to bones by structures called tendons. Tendons must be both
strong to facilitate movement and compliant to prevent damage to the
muscle tissues. Ligaments, which are stiff structures that connect
bones, help to prevent excessive
movement.
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are attached around each joint at
very specific positions, with joint surfaces shaped in exact dimensions.
Fluid within most of the joints lubricates the joint surfaces to reduce
friction and allow for lifelong use.
How do I keep joints in good shape?
The
movements that you perform on a daily basis are critical to long-term
joint health, as are proper nutrition, a healthy exercise regimen, and a
healthy lifestyle. Proper lifting is also important.
Moving a joint through its full range of motion serves several
important purposes. Joints are not supplied directly with blood as are
other organs within the body, so the saying "If you don't use it, you'll
lose it" applies to joint function.
Most joints in the body are lined with cartilage-a firm but pliable tissue that covers the surfaces of the bones that make up the joint. Cartilage within a joint is nourished by synovial fluid, which is "forced" into the joint cartilage through a process called imbibition. The pressure within the joint providing nourishment to the cartilage occurs only when joint movement happens. And this is why movement is critical to joint health. Grinding of bone on bone without a cartilage covering leads to degenerative joint disease, tearing up the bones and creating cysts, bone spurs, and excess bone production.
A spinal disc is made up of two parts: a larger, outermost, more
ligament-like portion called the annulus fibrosus and an inner
gelatinous portion called the nucleus pulposus. These two structures are
primarily fluid- or water-based and they also rely on movement and
imbibition for their nourishment. Therefore, movement in the spine is
also critical to the health of the
spinal joints.
Proper diet and nutrition also contribute to joint health by
providing the joints with enough healthy nutrients for long-term
stability and resistance to wear and tear. A healthy lifestyle, one that
is free from tobacco products and other toxins, helps to ensure proper
blood supply to tissues surrounding joints and speeds up healing of
joint injuries when they occur.
How are joints injured?
Most of the
injuries to joints occur because abnormal stresses are placed on a
normal joint. A joint can be injured acutely from a single traumatic
event. An ankle sprain is a classic example. The ankle joint is
protected by ligaments on the inside and outside. When the ankle moves
excessively inward, the ligaments on the outside of the joint are torn.
The ankle swells, leading to bruising and pain. In some cases, small
pieces of bone and cartilage may be torn away. Frank fracture of the
tibia and/or fibula (ankle bones) can also occur.
Other joint injuries are called repetitive-stress injuries or
cumulative-trauma disorders. These injuries occur when relatively small
abnormal stresses are repeatedly placed on normal joints. The stresses
placed on joints by poor posture, poor joint position during the
performance of a task, and/or poor workstation ergonomics make these
joints more likely to be injured.
How can I prevent repetitive stress injuries?
There are three basic principles that are especially important when considering the impact of proper joint movement:
1. When lifting an object, be sure that the largest muscles in the area perform the task. The larger
the
muscle or muscle group utilized for lifting, the less the stress placed
on smaller, more vulnerable muscles and the joint itself.
2. During any activities, you should be able to comfortably assume several different postures, to
avoid
staying in one posture for extended periods. Muscles will fatigue and
joints are more likely to be injured when you hold a particular posture,
especially a poor one, such as staying partially bent forward at the
waist.
3. When performing tasks, keep the joints that are being used either in their neutral posture or approximately halfway into the range of motion. Working with your joints at the extremes of their ranges of motion for prolonged periods places abnormal stresses on those joints and can result in repetitive-stress injuries.
Be Careful When Lifting Objects
When lifting, be certain to follow these simple suggestions:
- When lifting anything from the floor, keep the spine straight and
lift with the legs. Do not bend over at the waist and lift with the
muscles of the low back. Your body is more easily injured in this
position.
- Keep the object being lifted close to your body.
- Keep your elbows flexed.
- Keep your head up and your neck straight as you lift.