A6 - Additional affects of the skeletal system

Question 1

What are the benefits of regular physical activity?

Answer 1

• likely to live longer
• less likely to develop serious diseases
• help common skeletal diseases such as arthritis and osteoporosis

Question 2

What is arthritis?

Answer 2

• a condition where there is an inflammation within the synovial joint, causing pain and stiffness in the joint (leading to reduction in range of movement)

Question 3

What is the most common type of arthritis?

Answer 3

• osteoarthritis
• caused by general wear and tear over a long period of time
• reduces the normal amount of cartilage tissue (potentially leading to the end of two bones ‘rubbing’ together)
• cartilage naturally breaks down over time, but is made worse by injury to a joint

Question 4

What are the stages of knee osteoarthritis?

Answer 4

doubtful = minimal disruption to the joint, already a 10% loss in cartilage
mild = joint space narrows and cartilage begins to break down (start of osteoarthritis)
moderate = moderate joint space reduction, gaps in cartilage appear, expose and can reach the bone
sever = joint space greatly reduced in 60% of cartilage is lost, bone exposed!

Question 5

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 5

• a weakening of bones caused by a loss of calcium or a lack of vitamin D

Question 6

What is vitamin D used for in the body?

Answer 6

• used to regulate the amount of calcium in the body and is produced from sunlight
• small amounts of vitamin D can be found in oily fish and eggs

Question 7

What happens to your bones as you get older?

Answer 7

• slowly lose their ‘mineral density’ and naturally become brittle, fragile and more likely to break under pressure/ stress

Question 8

How do you prevent osteoporosis?

Answer 8

• physical activity
• as it increases bone density and mineral uptake

Question 9

What will help develop bone density?

Answer 9

• overloading
• resistance/ weight training is a good way to develop this

Question 10

What should be considered when doing physical activity with children and why?

Answer 10

• excess strain through resistance training in children can actually damage their skeleton
• children’s bones are not fully developed, and too much strain can damage the epiphyseal (growth) plates at the ends of each bone
• damage to this bones in childhood/ puberty can lead to permanent damage and stunted growth