Kirrily - Musculoskeletal Questions

Question 1

What are the two factors that contribute to loss of strength?
1.
2.

Answer 1

1. loss of contractile tissue

2. the aged tend to do less heavy physical work, so their muscles lose strength.

Question 2

Fill in the four blank lines:

From the ____ decade of life __ to __% of mass is lost each year per year and about __% of strength.

Answer 2

From the fifth decade of life 0.5-1.2% of mass is lost each year per year and about 3% of strength.

Question 3

Why is it important for older people to have a sufficient number of daily steps?

Answer 3

A relative reduction in daily steps results in significant reductions in muscle mass, strength and possibly an increase in disease risk. 2-3 weeks of reduced daily steps may induce muscle loss and poorer control over blood glucose in older adults.

Question 4

Sarcopenia diagnosis requires 2 of the following 3 criteria:
1.
2.
3.

Answer 4

Sarcopenia diagnosis requires 2 of the following 3 criteria:

1. low skeletal muscle mass,
2. inadequate muscle strength, and
3. inadequate physical performance.

Question 5

Age related factors for developing sarcopenia are:
1.
2.
3.

Answer 5

1. reduced levels of exercise and physical activity;
2. a loss of muscle motor units, particularly fast twitch fibres (which are responsible for explosive muscle contractions); and
3. reduced skeletal muscle protein synthesis.

Question 6

How can we tell that nervous system ageing is linked to musculoskeletal ageing?

Answer 6

With age, there is a decrease in the number of motor nerves supplying the muscle and in the background activity in these nerves.

Question 7

Which two anabolic hormones are important for developing muscle?

Answer 7

• growth hormone / somatotropin

- testosterone

Question 8

A healthy older person can:
1. 
2.
3.
4.
5.

Answer 8

A healthy older person can:

1. easily climb stairs,
2. rise from a squatting position,
3. walk along a straight line,
4. hop on either foot, and
5. perform typical activities of daily living.

Question 9

Muscles are involved in other functions besides movement. What are these functions and how do they change with age?
1.
2.
3.
4.

Answer 9

1. thermoregulation - people with sarcopaenia may have impaired thermoregulation
2. glucose regulation - sarcopaenia may contribute to the development of type II diabetes as the muscles are a major site of glucose uptake and storage
3. drug storage - a decrease in muscle mass may increase the effective circulating concentration of drug, increasing the risk of adverse reactions
4. regulation of nutrient intake - loss of muscle mass may cause a decrease in food intake which in turn may cause nutritional deficiencies.

Question 10

There are two types of bone loss in ageing. Describe Type 1 bone loss.

Answer 10

• characterised by a rapid loss of bone mineral rapid one that affects women after menopause
• Oestrogen suppresses osteoclasts and declines sharply at menopause, causing rapid bone loss during the next 5 to 10 yrs.

Question 11

In women, which fractures are associated with which decade of life?

Answer 11

1. wrist fractures commonly occur during the sixth decade of life,
2. vertebral fractures occur during the seventh decade and
3. hip fractures occur during the eighth decade of life.