Disorders of Musculoskeletal System

Introduction

If the human body is a machine, then we are referring to various parts of the body and their functions. All body parts have fascinating coordination to maintain all functions of the body in excellent condition. Our musculoskeletal system contributes to movements or locomotion, posture, and blood circulation. It is undoubtedly the vital system of our body as its absence will reduce the human body into a mass of tissues. A muscular and skeletal system disorder involves one or more parts of these systems.

Most crucial parts of our musculoskeletal system:

Most of the diseases of the muscular and skeletal system affect one or more organs of the system, resulting in loss of functionality, pain, swelling, and many more concerns. The important parts are given below-

• Bones
• Muscles
• Joints
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Connective tissues
• Synovial fluid

Common diseases of musculoskeletal system

Injuries and other medical conditions that affect movements of the human body are collectively called musculoskeletal system diseases. These may involve bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and nerves. A musculoskeletal disorder is the result of an individual’s prolonged exposure to risk factors. It can lead to extended absenteeism in schools and workplaces. Prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal diseases can help individuals prevent loss of work or studies.

Diseases caused due to Repetitive motions and stress

Workplace-associated diseases are the result of awkward postures, high repetitions, and forceful exertions. Few are given below:-

Ergonomic risk factors– It may result from improper workplace design that forces individuals to work beyond their capabilities and limitations. These factors can cause immense strain on the musculoskeletal system and cause fatigue. Continuous stress and fatigue over time can cause musculoskeletal system diseases

Wrong postures– Awkward postures result in excessive force on our joints. It can also overburden our tendons and muscles. Frequent working of joints beyond mid-range motion will result in the development of a musculoskeletal disorder

Poor work practices– You expose your musculoskeletal system to unnecessary stress and fatigue if you do not follow proper lifting techniques or body movements. The individual’s body also loses the natural ability to recover from musculoskeletal stress. Some habits like smoking and drinking can further add to the risk of developing such diseases in addition to some chronic conditions

Diseases due to excessive wear and tear of the joints and other components of the skeletal system:

These disorders affect the muscular system and skeletal systems of the human body. Age-related degeneration and other factors are responsible for such diseases .Some of the common muscular disorders are as follows:

 Myasthenia gravis – It is an autoimmune disorder. Myasthenia gravis involves involuntary muscular contractions because of the attack of antibodies on the nerves. The individual may experience weakening, paralysis, and fatigue of the skeletal muscle

 Tetany– There is an uncontrollable twitching or spasms of muscles in tetany. It is the result of nervous system disorder, infection, or nutritional deficiencies. There is a low concentration of low Ca²⁺ in the body fluids of patients with tetany

Osteoporosis– Sometimes referred to as brittle bone disease, osteoporosis involves a loss of bone mass, leading to greater vulnerability to fractures. Osteoporosis is more common in aged people with reduced Bone Mineral Density (BMD)

Muscular dystrophy– Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder involving the gradual degeneration of skeletal muscles

Gout– It is a painful musculoskeletal disorder characterized by inflammation. Gout involves the deposition of uric acid and uric acid crystals within the joints

Symptoms of Musculoskeletal disorders:

Pain is a common symptom of any musculoskeletal disorder. Other symptoms also affect an individual’s ability to perform routine tasks like typing, walking, sitting, driving, and operating machines. For example, difficulty in moving joints, stiffness and joint noise. Let us dive deeper to understand the effect of these symptoms individually. Pain: Pain is one of the most common characteristics of the musculoskeletal system, it can range from mild to severe and of short or long duration. Pain can also be either local or widespread. Musculoskeletal system diseases of joints, bones, ligaments, and tendons cause pains because of injuries.

• Joint pain– Pain in joints can sometimes be associated with arthritis that involves swelling and joint pain. It is more common in gout, osteoarthritis and infectious arthritis. One may experience more severe pain after moving the joints. However, it will not subside completely, even when the joints are at rest
• Pain because of nerve compression– In conditions like tunnel syndromes or sciatica, nerves can get compressed. It is a radiating pain along the path of the nerve that gets compressed
• Bone pain– It is a dull and deep pain of penetrating nature that can result from injuries to the parts of the musculoskeletal system
• Muscle pain– Muscle pain is myalgia in the medical language it can result from sudden muscular contraction leading to intense pain. Infection, muscle injury, or tumor can cause muscle pain. There is severe muscular pain and stiffness in Polymyalgia Rheumatica, a type of musculoskeletal disorder
• Ligament and tendon pain– Ligament injury or inflammation of tendons can cause a sharp pain that worsens after stretching or moving the affected ligament or tendon. Tendon or ligament pain can subside after rest

Painful joints

A musculoskeletal disorder may cause difficulty in moving joints as the individual experiences weakness, tremors, or rigidity. Moreover, joint pain that worsens after any movement is bound to restrict the individual from moving the affected joint. Restrictions on the range of motion are usually the result of pain, prolonged immobilization of joints, accumulation of fluid inside a joint, or a joint injury. Weakness of joints is also one of the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms following the involvement of nerves.

Joint stiffness

Joint stiffness is an extreme difficulty while moving the joint. It is more evident during the morning hours in the case of rheumatoid arthritis. Morning stiffness slowly reduces after the individual starts moving around. Physical therapy or stretching may relieve some of the musculoskeletal disorder symptoms, including joint stiffness.

Joint noises

Another term for joint noises is crepitation, as there is a creaking or clicking sound in patients with joint disorders. The most common occurrence of these noises are  in knees or jawbones.

Conclusion

The musculoskeletal system is responsible for maintaining proper posture and enabling various movements of the body. Musculoskeletal system diseases cause movement restrictions affecting discs, tendons, joints, muscles, and bones. In a musculoskeletal disorder, fatigue and stress overpower our body’s normal recovery process causing degeneration of joints. Age is a common cause of most disorders of the musculoskeletal system. While determining the exact cause, one should also look for family history, occupation, and lifestyle. Pain, joint stiffness, movement restrictions, and joint noises are common symptoms. Tetany, myasthenia gravis, gout, muscular dystrophy, osteoporosis, and arthritis are some examples of such diseases.