Impact of Aging on Joint Health
Joint pain is a common issue among older individuals and according to statistics, over 50% of people above the age of 65 experience some level of joint pain. No matter how healthy you are, as you age your joints will exhibit some changes in mobility because of changes in connective tissues. These changes may range from mild joint stiffness to severe arthritis.
The bones may be brittle and may easily break. There is the breakdown of joints that may lead to stiffness, pain, deformity, and or inflammation. The body posture becomes more bent (stooped) and the hips and knees may become flexed. Movement may become slow, unsteady, or limited.
Understanding the Aging Process
Aging and joint health come with lots of health challenges and one of the most notable is joint health problems. As you age, the joints become stiff and less flexible which affects mobility. This happens because of a reduction in the amount of lubrication fluid in the joints. There is also thinning of cartilage with ligaments shortening and losing flexibility, leading to joint stiffness.
Initially, within each BMU, bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts is joined in a delicate balance to maintain bone mass and strength to resist deformity.
However, with aging, the balance changes in a negative direction, where it favors better bone resorption and less bone formation.
Synovial fluid is responsible for lubricating joints to enhance joint flexibility and mobility. Healthy joints contain a high amount of hyaluronic acid (HA), a molecule in the synovial fluid that gives it viscosity for lubrication and function. However, with age, the HA amount reduces, thus inhibiting the ability to work effectively to support lubrication and cushioning of the joints.
Aging also has an effect on muscles. Older people experience loss of muscle mass as a result of atrophy and muscle fiber loss.
Aging joint issues are, therefore, grave and can have a negative impact on your quality of life if measures are not put in place early enough to address the problem. Nutrition for joint health and supplements for joint health have been recommended to combat aging joint issues.
Common Joint Problems in Older Adults
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint condition where part of the cartilage becomes thin and surface rough, making movement of the joints difficult. OA is characterized by swelling, pain, and stiffness in the joints and it affects a person’s mobility.
Aging and joint health is a serious concern among seniors across the world. OA is the most common joint condition affecting a significant population globally. One research study notes that OA is a common joint disorder among the American people and that approximately 13% of women and 10% of men in the United States aged 60 years and above experience OA symptoms.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic ailment that causes inflammation across the body and presents with pain in the joints. While OA causes tear and wear of the lining in the joints, RA causes painful swelling on the joint linings, leading to joint deformity and bone erosion.
Also, RA is different from OA because it affects more than just the joints. The condition can also cause damage to a wide range of body systems including the lungs, skin, heart, eyes, and blood vessels.
Joint Pain
Joint pain is a condition that causes discomfort throughout the body. It is a common health condition that affects a person regardless of age. The condition can affect any part of the body: shoulders, hands, knees, and or ankles.
Joint pain can be a result of many illnesses including inflammatory conditions like RA and Still’s disease, Lyme disease, Lupus, rheumatic fever, COVID-19, Leukemia, etc.
However, when it comes to seniors, it could be as a result of the aging process. Joint pain is common among the older population and could be a sign of OA’s onset.
Effects of Aging on Joint Health
The majority of the aging population loses bone density or bone mass because of a decrease in minerals including calcium. Between the age of 20- 40, bone density is usually stable with an equal amount of bone breakdown and bone formation.
The effects of aging on joint health are usually experienced after age 40, when you start losing bone mass, making them brittle. A joint breakdown may lead to joint pain, inflammation, deformity, and stiffness.
People in their old age also experience the loss of muscle mass and strength commonly caused by RA. Muscle wasting is a contributing factor to joint aches and tiredness, thus affecting joints ‘stability and overall health.
Lack of exercise can cause joint immobility, stiffness, and weakness, leading to joint instability. The bones rely on flexible ligaments and strong muscles to maintain support. So reduced or lack of exercising can lead to weak muscles likely to have a negative impact on joint mobility.
Know more - The Best Exercises To Keep Your Joints Strong And Healthy
Symptoms of Joint Issues
There are common joint problem symptoms that you need to watch out for in aging adults like:
- Pain and joint stiffness: Can present themselves in varying degrees of pain, stiffness, and inflammation. It is an age-related degenerative condition that may turn into osteoarthritis if not managed adequately and in time.
- Swelling and inflammation: Swelling and inflammation could be a symptom of a greater health condition including joint health. It causes redness, heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function in the affected area.
- Reduced range of motion: Reduced mobility is also a sign of joint issues mostly due to joint pain, stiffness, and pain.
Conclusion
Joint health is an important aspect of our body health because, without healthy joints, there isn’t much we can do. Conditions like joint pain, inflammation, and stiffness are some of the effects of aging on joint health and can negatively impact our mobility and lead to a degree of discomfort that later affects our quality of life.
As we age, it is important that we take care of our joint health by addressing any joint-related issues at their initial stages to prevent them from escalating into bigger health issues.
While age has been considered a major factor in joint health, there are things we can put in place to slow down the process like exercising to keep your muscles strong so that they can continue supporting the bones. Physical and joint health is a crucial aspect if you are worth considering as it can help combat aging joint issues.
A healthy diet can also help combat aging joint issues. Nutrition for joint health can provide crucial minerals the bone requires to maintain healthy bones even as we age.
Where necessary, you can seek the help of a healthcare professional to advise on the appropriate medication. The doctor may recommend supplements for joint health as an alternative for maintaining healthy joints
FAQs
What causes joint pain as we age?
Muscle mass begins to shrink as we get older and when this happens the pressure on our joint becomes too much because the muscles are no longer able to support the joint bones.
There is also a reduction in joint lubrication, leading to the rubbing of joints against each other. This in turn results in joint pain and stiffness.
How do you maintain joints healthy as you age?
There are ways you can maintain healthy joints as you age: Cutting weight, regularly flexing muscles, and eating a healthy diet.
What causes joint pain as we age?
Joint pain in older adults is often caused by the reduction in joint lubrication and the loss of muscle mass, leading to increased pressure on the joints.
How can I prevent joint stiffness as I get older?
Regular exercise, a healthy diet rich in calcium, and maintaining a healthy weight can prevent joint stiffness as you age.
Are there supplements that help with joint health?
Yes, supplements containing glucosamine, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid can help support joint lubrication, flexibility, and reduce inflammation.