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How Does Age Affect the Joints?

As a person becomes older, he experiences a variety of changes within the body, many of which are related to the bones and joints. Joints are the cushiony cartilage that keep two bones from rubbing against each other. Not everyone who ages will experience extreme joint pain or disorders caused by damage to the joints, though aging does eventually affect everyone's joints in several negative ways.

  1. Rheumatoid Arthritis

    • As a person ages, the cartilage which makes up a joint can begin to break down and become inflamed. This inflammation can often lead to a condition known as rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic disease that affects 1.3 million Americans. This form of arthritis is debilitating and causes pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can make it difficult for a person to walk, in addition to causing severe back pain. Although rheumatoid arthritis is not limited to older generations, aging is a primary contributing factor to this condition affecting the joints.

    Decreased Flexibility

    • Joint motion becomes limited with age, resulting in an overall decreased flexibility in the joints. This happens primarily due to a change within the ligaments and tendons surrounding the joints. As a person ages, her walk usually changes, which alters the impact on the joints. This change in flexibility is noticeable in nearly all senior citizens and many older adults.

    Degenerative Changes

    • Hip and knee joints are among the first joints to experience degenerative changes as a person ages. Due to the aging process, certain joints will often begin to lose structure, changing the overall appearance of the actual joint, and the outward appearance. Finger joints will often lose cartilage, resulting in a thickening of the bones. The change in finger joints affects women more than men. In some cases, minerals will be deposited into some joints, a process known as calcification. Calcification results most often around the shoulders.

    Prevention

    • There is no way to guarantee complete joint health, as some issues are hereditary, but there are methods of prevention to try and limit the amount of damage aging can cause. Stretching is an easy way to prevent future joint stiffness. Stretching before any exercise or physical activity will reduce the impact the body has on the joints. On the same note, a regular exercise program is also beneficial when attempting to prevent problems with the joints. In addition to exercise, a well-balanced and healthy diet can also help to prevent some of the potential effects aging can have on the joints.

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