JBJS | An AOA Critical Issue: Aging of the North American Population: New Challenges for Orthopaedics*

The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, Volume 85, Issue 4

The Orthopaedic Forum | April 01, 2003

An AOA Critical Issue: Aging of the North American Population: New Challenges for Orthopaedics*

Joseph A. Buckwalter, MD; James D. Heckman, MD; David P. Petrie, MD

The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2003; 85:748-758

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In the next twenty years, the number of North Americans who are more than fifty-five years old will increase by at least thirty-five million ^1-4 , a change that will create great challenges for the specialty of orthopaedics in both Canada and the United States. The ability of this population to remain physically active will depend upon a better understanding of the aging process and the development of methods to prevent and treat age-related injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Aging, the normal decline in cell, tissue, and organ system function that progresses with time following skeletal maturity, is not a disease ^2,3,5 , but it increases the risk of injuries and degenerative diseases that impair musculoskeletal function. As a result, impairments of the musculoskeletal system are among the most prevalent and symptomatic disorders associated with middle and old age ^4,6-8 . Common age-related musculoskeletal disorders include acute fractures of the hip, spine, and distal aspect of the radius; insufficiency fracture of the pelvis; muscle pain and weakness; muscle-tendon junction injury; osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, foot, and hand; intervertebral disc degeneration; spinal stenosis; and rupture of the rotator cuff tendon ^2-4 . By decreasing strength, restricting movement, and causing pain, these impairments prevent middle-aged and older people from making full use of their abilities and opportunities for leisure and work and from participating in the regular physical activity necessary to maintain physical and mental health.

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Topics

aging ; musculoskeletal injuries ; intervertebral disc ; fracture ; musculoskeletal physiology ; skeletal muscles ; tendon ; ligaments ; elderly ; musculoskeletal system

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These activities have been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

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