Week 4 pt 1

Question 1

What are the functions of the skeletal system?

Answer 1

Supports structure
Allows movement
Makes Blood Cells
Protects Organs
Stores Minerals

Question 2

What happens to our skeletal system when we age?

Answer 2

Decrease bone density
Decrease minerals (calcium + phosphate)
Decrease collagen (makes up bone structure)
Decrease bone marrow (immunological theory, change in b cell production)

Question 3

What happens to our bones as we age?

Answer 3

mass and quality are reduced
they are easier to break

bone loss is greater in females and therefore have greater risk of fracture

Question 4

What are osteoblasts?

Answer 4

Cells that form new bones (produced in bone marrow)

Question 5

What are osteoclasts?

Answer 5

Cells that dissolve bone (reabsorption)

Question 6

What are osteocytes?

Answer 6

mechanosensors that help signal bone remodeling
- signals for osteoclasts to dissolv bone and for osteoblasts to replace tissue
- healthy system has a balance between the two

Question 7

What happens to our bone mass with osteoblasts and osteoclasts as we age?

Answer 7

young: there is an equal balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts (bone is rebuilt as quickly as it is broken down)

old: there is an imbalance in activity, and there is more dissolving than the formation of bone

Question 8

What contributes to the reduction in bone mass in older adults?

Answer 8

decrease in osteoblasts: increase in fat deposits and therefore an increase in ROS

increased inflammation: decreased bone healing

Hormonal imbalance: increased parathyroid hormone results in an increase in reabsorption - decreased estrogen results in LESS inhibition of osteoclasts (males see a slight increase, females see a decrease)

Decrease in calcium and vitamin d

Question 9

What are the two aging-associated skeletal disorders?

Answer 9

1. Osteoporosis
2. Arthritis

Question 10

What is osteoporosis?

Answer 10

Porous bone - lose tissue from trabecular bone
Deterioration of bone tissue and mass

Question 11

How does osteoporosis develop over time?

Answer 11

The mid-30s: bone density starts to decline
Osteopenia: bone loss; not as severe as osteoporosis (the beginning)
Osteoporosis: not usually detected until a break or develop “dowagers hump” (a hallmark sign, already severe at this point)

Question 12

Based on the physiology of age-related declines in bone mass and quality, describe ideas for treating osteoporosis

Answer 12

• more calcium + vit D intake
• decrease the activity of the parathyroid hormone
• increase estrogen
• decrease ROS and maintain bone marrow by increasing anti-oxidant intake
• exercise to stimulate osteoblast activity
• preventative measures at a young age to stay above the threshold
• bone marrow transplant

Question 13

Is physical activity in general and strength training, in particular, safe for older adults with osteoporosis?

Answer 13

• yes, depending on weight/load, posture,
• need to take things into consideration

Question 14

What are the effects of resistance training on bone density?

Answer 14

RT can increase bone density, but the effectiveness depends on the bone
ex: hard to target resistance training specifically for our spine, but easy to target in hips so it seems to be more beneficial

Question 15

What is arthritis?

Answer 15

Inflammation of bone joints
Can affect one or multiple joints
Pain, swelling, decreased ROM

Question 16

What are the most common forms of arthritis?

Answer 16

Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 17

What is osteoarthritis?

Answer 17

The most common form of arthritis
The longterm degeneration of cartilage exposing bone surface
Most common in knees
Cartilage gets worn out after years of use
Cartilage protects bones from rubbing (loss makes movements painful)

Question 18

What is rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 18

~1% of Canadians have this
An autoimmune disease
Immune cells attack synovial membranes creating grainy fluid
Grainy fluid abrades cartilage
Results in exposed bone
- makes ppl move less which decreases our CV system

Question 19

Compare/contrast osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, based on the theories of aging that would explain each best.

Answer 19

Similarities: exposed bone, some swelling + inflammation, wear and tear, cartilage broken down, negatively affects PA and ROM

Differences: OA; breakdown of cartilage from rubbing against each other, RA: breakdown of cartilage because of grainy synovial fluid

Theories of aging: OA; primarily wear and tear, RA; primarily immunological

Question 20

What are the effects of PA in patients with arthritis

Answer 20

• exercise improves pain, not 100%
• exercise decreases chronic swelling, movement can help improve function (increase blood flow), joints become stiff when not moving