Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is medical condition mostly caused by work related occupations and working environment, affecting patients’ muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves and developing over time. A community sample of 73 females and 32 males aged 85 and over underwent a standardised examination at home. Musculoskeletal pain was reported by 57% of those interviewed. A major restriction of joint movement range was frequent in the shoulder but uncommon in other joints. A shoulder disorder was found in 27% of subjects, rheumatoid arthritis in 1% and osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand, hip, and knee in five, seven, and 18% of subjects, respectively. Disability was frequent: a walking distance of < 500 m was found in 60% and ADL dependency in 40% of the group. Factors related to one or both of these disability measures included female gender, hip and knee OA, impaired vision, cognitive impairment and neurological disease(1).
Types of Musculo-Skeletal disorders in elder(2)
1. Osteoarthritis
2. Gout
3. Rheumatoid Arthritis
4. Polymalagia Arthritis
5. Cervical myleopathy and spinal canal stenosis
6. Osteoporosis
7. Low back pain
8. Fibromyalgia
Osteoarthritis
I. Osteoarthritis (OA), a form of arthritis, is defined as a condition of
as a result of aging causes of wear and tear on a joint, affecting over 25 million people in the United States in alone.
V. Treatments
B. In herbal medicine perspective
1. Stinging nettle
In the study of Stinging nettle cream for osteoarthritis by Keith Rayburn, MD; Eric Fleischbein, PharmD; Jessica Song, PharmD; Blaine Allen, RN; Mary Kundert, PharmD; Charles Leiter, PharmD; Thomas Bush, MD, showed that Stinging nettle could prove beneficial to patients with osteoarthritis in 2 general ways: (1) pain relief and (2) disease process modification. The intact leaf hair’s sting could provide a counterirritation that decreases pain by depleting substance P, similar to the effect of capsaicin(66).
2. Ginger
In a report of a study to explicate the phenomenon of ginger compresses for people with osteoarthritis, showed that Seven themes were identified in the data: (1) Meditative-like stillness and relaxation of thoughts; (2) Constant penetrating warmth throughout the body; (3) Positive change in outlook; (4) Increased energy and interest in the world; (5) Deeply relaxed state that progressed to a gradual shift in pain and increased interest in others; (6) Increased suppleness within the body and (7) More comfortable, flexible joint mobility. The essential experience of ginger compresses exposed the unique qualities of heat, stimulation, anti-inflammation and analgesia(67).
3. Devil’s claw
Glucosamine, Harpagophytum procumbens(Devil’s claw), and acupuncture are among the most commonly used complementary and alternative medicine approaches utilized by patients suffering from osteoarthritis(68).
4. Hot Chilli (Capsaicin)
“Topical capsaicin is not associated with any severe systemic adverse effects. However, stinging and burning, particularly during the first week of therapy, is reported by many patients. Topical capsaicin merits consideration as adjuvant therapy in conditions such as post-herpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy and osteoarthritis, where the pain can be chronic and difficult to treat|”, said Dr Rains C, and Bryson HM(69).
5. Etc.
For common types of diseases of Ages of 50+, please visit http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.ca/p/better-of-living-health-50-over.html
For other health article, visit http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.ca
References
(1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7864688
(2) http://health.yahoo.net/channel/musculoskeletal-disorders.html
(66) nhttp://www.encognitive.com/files/STINGING%20NETTLE%20CREAM%20FOR%20OSTEOARTHRITIS.pdf
(67) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20626491
(68) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21951024
(69) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8535059
