This week we celebrate Bone and Joint Action Week by focusing on education awareness on disorders including arthritis, back pain, trauma, pediatric conditions, and osteoporosis. Naturally, these conditions affect many older adults in the long-term care setting. Our Mid Atlantic Long Term Care providers are well trained in these areas and can help to diagnose, treat, and manage these conditions for their patients.
Did you know?
- More than half the American population over the age of 18 are affected by bone and joint conditions.
- One in three (33%) people over the age of 18 required medical care for a musculoskeletal condition in each of the years 2009 to 2011, a 19% increase over the last decade.
- Bone and joint conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability worldwide affecting hundreds of millions of people.
- Since 2011, when “Baby Boomers” became beneficiaries of Medicare, the economic and societal cost of bone and joint health escalated and is expected to continue for decades.
Tips to maintaining good bone and joint health:
- Maintain a healthy body weight. Excess weight can cause strain on your joints.
- Stay active. Exercising regularly can help to keep your joints limber and strong and will help bones keep their density.
- Eat a nutritious diet. Making sure to get your daily dose of calcium and vitamin D is essential to bone health.
- Make sure to seek medical attention for bone or joint pain!
For more information on Bone and Joint Action Week or Musculoskeletal conditions, check out the links below:
https://www.usbji.org/programs/public-education-programs/action-week
https://www.boneandjointburden.org/2014-report/ib0/prevalence-select-medical-conditions
https://www.boneandjointburden.org/2014-report/if0/health-care-utilization-and-economic-cost