Glossary of Musculoskeletal Terms

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)