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Bone and Joint Health Week

Bone and Joint Health Action Week (October 12-18) focuses on improving quality of life and advancing the understanding and treatment of bone and joint disorders through research, prevention, and education.

Did you know that as we age, we lose bone density and our cartilage thins? These factors are the leading causes of many bone and joint disorders that include arthritis, back pain, and osteoporosis, among others, which have a tendency to cause increased discomfort during aging.

Almost 15 million US adults live with severe joint pain related to arthritis. Severe joint pain can limit a person’s ability to do basic tasks and may affect their quality of life. Severe joint pain is more common among adults with arthritis who also have other chronic conditions including but not limited to diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Weight loss, golf, walking, tai-chi, yoga, swimming, or other water activities (ie: water aerobics or walking laps) are several effective ways to reduce joint pain, improve balance and mobility, and also prevent falls. Speak with your physician or physical therapist to know what methods are right for you before adding something new to your routine. During your appointment, be sure to ask about scheduling a bone density test; early detection is the key to prevention and living a longer pain-free life!

Source: cdc.gov