Locomotor Disabilities in Older Patients

What Is Meant by the Locomotor System?

The locomotor system is called a musculoskeletal system which consists of the skeleton, skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, joints, and other connective tissue. The locomotor system is responsible for movements. The body's movements are monitored by the brain with the information form:

• The eyes.
• The ears.
• Muscle sense.

How Does the Locomotor System Cause Problems?

Some common problems of the locomotor system are,

• Arthritis: Arthritis is a condition that causes inflammation of joints, resulting in pain and stiffness that can worsen as the person ages.

• Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition that occurs when the bone starts to lose calcium at a faster pace than the body can replace it. Due to this process, the bones lose their strength, become more brittle, and break very easily.

• Bone Fracture: Bone gets cracked or fractured due to falls or accidents.

• Back pain.

• Neck pain.

• Inflammatory condition.

• Muscle or ligament strain.

• Tendonitis: Inflammation of the fibrous cord attracted to the bone or muscle.

What Are the Common Causes of Disability?

Some common causes of locomotor disability in people over the age of 60 are,

• Arthritis.

• Foot conditions.

• Cognitive impairment.

• Herat and vision issues.

• Hearing impairments.

• Chronic respiratory condition.

• Fall and fracture.

What Is the Common Aging Process?

• Reduced muscle mass.

• Reduced blood volume.

• Reduced bone mass and strength and enhanced risk of fracture.

• The decline in ventilatory capacity.

• A gradual reduction in the functioning of the kidneys.

• Reduced absorption of calcium.

• Reduced elasticity.

What Are the Problems Caused Due to Locomotor Disabilities in Elderly People?

1. Posture:

Locomotor disabilities affect 20 % to 30 % of older adults and are characterized by exaggerated anterior curvature of the spine, which is related to aging. Some features of this condition are stooped posture, reduced height, and distortion caused by weakness and atrophy of the skeleton and major muscles responsible for posture and antigravity support. This distortion of posture results in changed biomechanics, muscle imbalance, and a gradual decrease in the strength of joints, reducing safety. The doctors may recommend exercise to enhance strength, coordination, and balance. Some older adults require wheelchairs.

2. Muscle Changes:

Sarcopenia is a condition that causes a decline in muscle function associated with muscle loss, which affects walking speed or grip strength. This condition usually affects elderly people with sedentary lifestyles and people affected with conditions that cause an impact on the musculoskeletal system and affect physical activity. Sarcopenia causes an increased risk of falls, disability, and an increased mortality rate. This condition also increases the risk of osteoporosis. One of the main reasons for sarcopenia is reduced intake of protein.

3. Impact of Aging on the Bone:

Osteoporosis is a common condition that affects many elderly people. This causes psychosocial and financial issues for the patients. This condition results in many risk factors and is treated with the help of a group of specialists. By 60 to 70 years, the skeletal mass will be decreased to half that present at the age of 30 years. If there is a reduced intake of calcium and vitamins, this will result in more problems. Osteoporosis will enhance the fracture risk, which can impact the muscle and joints' mobility range.

4. Impact of Aging on Joints:

Any healthy individual will experience changes in the mobility of the joints as they age caused due to alteration in the connective tissue. The alteration of functioning of the joint is caused by the range of movements of the joints, which impact posture and movement. Most people in the age group of 65 to 80 have articular disorder. Some issues caused in the joints are

• Reduced resilience and elasticity of the ligaments, periarticular tissue, and cartilage.

• Degeneration is accompanied by erosion.

• Calcification of cartilage.

• Gradual loss of collagen and not the water content.

• The sensation can be reduced if an alteration in the joints and muscles is associated with nerve damage.

The range and speed of the joint movements can be declined by:

• Reduced muscle bulk.

• Degenerative joint alterations.

Disability is caused as a combined result of muscle weakness, stiffness of joints, and impaired sensorimotor performance, so there are:

• Reduced precision in small and delicate movements.

• Difficulty in sudden alteration of movements.

• No proper timing of action impacts the loss of smooth flow of action from one to another.

• Slowing down to prevent the outcome of one movement or action before the next.

• Reduced confidence and reliability of movements.

5. Impact on Balance:

The decline in balance is associated with an age-related decline in various physiological systems due to:

• Reduced muscle strength and flexibility.

• Decline in the processing of sensory information.

• Reduced motor response.

In addition to the enhanced risk of falls, reduced balance, and mobility, it may also limit,

• Daily normal activities.

• Participating in various other physical activities.

How Can Locomotor Disabilities in Elderly People Be Managed?

Physical activity plays a major role in preventing locomotor disabilities. Physical activities or exercises have numerous benefits, and any group of people can perform them. Resistance training is one physical activity that decreases the pace and reverses muscle mass atrophy due to aging. Aerobic exercise enhances endurance by raising the capillary density, mitochondria, and enzyme levels related to skeletal muscle. These activities can help older adults perform physical activities independently.

The exercise's form and intensity will depend upon each individual's ability. There are various forms of physical activity or exercise for older adults, such as walking, jogging, swimming, stretching, dancing, gardening, cycling, etc. Before indulging in any form of physical activity, certain things need to be considered,

• The intensity of aerobic physical activity depends on the person's aerobic fitness.

• Those physical activities that enhance and maintain flexibility are suggested.

• As locomotor disability increases the risk of falls, balanced physical activity is also recommended.

• Those adults with other conditions that may hinder performing some physical activity should consult and get advice from the doctor.

Conclusion

The locomotor system is responsible for the movement of the muscles and joints. As a person ages, the locomotor function gets disturbed due to a sedentary lifestyle and the natural aging process. This condition reduces the mobility of muscles and joints. Regular physical exercise helps to prevent locomotor disability.