Explain the role of biomechanics in the treatment of arthritis in elderly people?

 Introduction

    Biomechanics is the study of the structure, function and motion of the mechanical aspects of biological systems, at any level from whole organisms to organs to cells, using the methods of mechanics. Biomechanics is a branch of biophysics. 
    
    Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. It can affect one joint or multiple joints. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis, with different causes and treatment methods.


Role of biomechanics

Biomechanics play an important role in the health of diarthrodial joints. Altered joint loading is associated to obesity, malalignment, trauma, or joint instability is a critical risk factor for joint degeneration, whereas exercise and weight loss have generally been shown to promote beneficial effects for osteoarthritic joints.

Under physiologic conditions, joints of the body are subjected to millions of cycles of loading resulting in forces of up to ten times body weight passing through the joints. Under normal circumstances, such loads have no adverse effects on the cartilage or other joint tissues, and furthermore, clinical data indicate that a variety of exercises are safe and effective for individuals with osteoarthritis.



Clinical and animal studies of altered joint loading have provided strong evidence that “abnormal” loads can lead to alterations in the composition, structure, metabolism, and mechanical properties of articular cartilage and other joint tissues

Abnormal loading may be caused by a variety of factors such as obesity, immobilization, joint instability, overuse, or trauma. For example, obesity is strongly associated with osteoarthritis, and a decrease of 5 kg of body weight has been shown to decrease the risk of osteoarthritis by over 50%.



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