Diseases of the Skeleton

Skeletal diseases affect the health of bones and joints. Osteoarthritis attacks the skeleton's joints and connective tissues. Some diseases of the skeleton can cause impairment of normal bone growth and function in children and adults.

Loss of vital minerals can lead to low bone mass and deterioration of bone structure, causing bones to break or fracture easily. Maintaining a healthy diet can help prevent some forms of skeletal disease.

Rickets

• Rickets is a condition that affects children and some adults. This disease is linked to poor nutrition and, while rarer now in the United States, afflicted many children in the past. According to Stanford University, the disease is cause by insufficient levels of activated vitamin D in the body.

  Activated vitamin D is also called calcitriol. It acts as a hormone to regulate the absorption of calcium from the small intestine and the amount of calcium and phosphate in your bones. The lack of the minerals in the bones prevents the bones from hardening properly.

  Untreated rickets leads to spinal and long bone deformities such as scoliosis and being bow legged. If treated early with proper nutrition and mineral supplements, the condition will improve. More advanced cases might require orthopedic surgery.

Osteoporosis

• According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease that causes bones to become fragile. The best way to prevent osteoporosis is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a diet that contains adequate amounts of calcium.

  This disease can lead to hip and spinal problems in women and men. The bones are more easily broken and may take longer to heal after injury. Elderly people should protect themselves by removing anything in the home that may pose a risk of tripping or falling.

  The foundation states that the disease is characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissues. As of 2010, more than 44 million Americans over age 50 are in danger from this disease.

Osteoarthritis

• Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that affects the joints. It is a condition afflicting more than 20 million Americans and is caused by cartilage breakdown. In many people, the disease starts off slow. Often they might feel a little pain after a workout or stiffness when they get out of bed.

  Over time the condition worsens as inflammation, obesity, overwork and other factors wear down the cartilage that cushions your joints. According to Drs. Edgar G. Dawson and Christopher Shaffrey of Spine Universe, osteoarthritis can occur in any joint but is most common in the spine, hips, knees and hands.

  The disease has no cure but can be treated with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and exercise. Keeping your weight under control is also important, as being obese puts more strain on the joints. In severe cases surgery can relieve chronic spine or joint pain.