MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
Musculoskeletal diseases and injury involve the structural
and motor systems of the body that have a role in human movement,
including bones, cartilage, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons,
and the spine.
Arthritis
Osteoarthritis is
a degenerative joint disease in which the cartilage that covers
the ends of bones in the joint deteriorates, causing pain and
loss of movement as bone begins to rub against bone. It is
the most prevalent form of arthritis. (Source: Arthritis Foundation)
Rheumatoid arthritis is
an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed
as part of the body’s immune system activity. Rheumatoid arthritis
is one of the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly
women. (Source: Arthritis Foundation)
Gout affects mostly
men. It is usually the result of a defect in body chemistry.
This painful condition most often attacks small joints, especially
the big toe. Fortunately, gout almost always can be completely
controlled with medication and changes in diet. (Source: Arthritis
Foundation)
Ankylosing spondylitis is
a type of arthritis that affects the spine. As a result of
inflammation, the bones of the spine grow together. (Source:
Arthritis Foundation)
Juvenile arthritis is
a general term for all types of arthritis that occur in children.
Children may develop juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or childhood
forms of lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, or other types of arthritis.
(Source: Arthritis Foundation)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)
is a serious disorder that can inflame and damage joints and
other connective tissues throughout the body. (Source: Arthritis
Foundation)
Fibromyalgia is
when widespread pain affects the muscles and attachments to
the bone. It affects mostly women. (Source: Arthritis Foundation)
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease in which
bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented
or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly
until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures,
occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist. (Source: National
Osteoporosis Foundation)
Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis is
a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss of
the blood supply to the bones. (Source: Center for Hip & Knee
Replacement)
Acute Low Back Pain
Acute low back pain (LBP) is defined
as low back pain present for up to six weeks. It may be experienced
as aching, burning, stabbing, sharp or dull, well-defined,
or vague. The intensity may range from mild to severe and may
fluctuate. The pain may radiate into one or both buttocks or
even into the thigh/hip area. (Source: North American Spine
Society)
Chronic Low Back Pain
Low back pain is considered to
be chronic if it has been present for greater than three months.
Chronic low back pain may originate from an injury, disease
or stresses on different structures of the body. The type of
pain may vary greatly and may be felt as bone pain, nerve pain
or muscle pain. The sensation of pain may also vary. For instance,
pain may be achy, burning, stabbing or tingling, sharp or dull,
and well-defined or vague. The intensity may range from mild
to severe. (Source: North American Spine Society)
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc occurs when the
vertebrae of the spine are displaced into the space occupied
by the nerves and spinal cord. The herniated (or “bulging”)
disc can then press on the nerves and cause pain, numbness,
tingling or weakness in the shoulders or arms. Your doctor
may test for changes in the reflexes, sensation and strength
in your arms caused by the herniated cervical disc. (Source:
North American Spine Society)
Spondylolysis
Spondylolysis is a crack in some
part of the vertebra. When the cracked vertebra slips forward
over the vertebra below it, this is known as spondylolisthesis.
(Source: North American Spine Society)
Stenosis
Stenosis is the narrowing of the
spinal column that holds the spinal cord due to the hardening
of the bone in the spinal column. (Source: North American Spine
Society)
MUSCULOSKELETAL TREATMENTS
Total Joint Replacement
Total joint replacement is when
an arthritic or damaged joint is removed and replaced with
an artificial joint called a prosthesis. The most common joints
affected by arthritis and treated by implants or prosthetic
components are total knee replacements, total hip replacements,
and total shoulder replacements. Other joints affected by arthritis
and deformity but which have a lower prevalence include total
ankle replacements, total elbow replacements, total wrist replacements,
and metacarpophalangeal replacements (total finger replacement).
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine uses a variety
of approaches to address tissue/organ insufficiency including
the replacement of tissue function with entirely synthetic
constructs (such as in artificial organs), functional restoration
with constructs that comprise both synthetic and cellular components
(such as in biohybrid organs), the combination of temporary
scaffolds with cellular components (such as in conventional
tissue engineering), and cellular therapies, including those
involving adult stem cells and genetically manipulated cells
(such as for the repair of damaged tissue and muscle). (Source:
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine)