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Knowledge of the structure and function of bones and aspects of
skeletal system generally are essential parts of training in many
therapies, such as Massage, Aromatherapy, Acupuncture, Shiatsu,
and others.
This page is intended to include the detail required for most Basic
/ First Level Courses in these therapies, and some ITEC Diplomas.
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This page is divided into the following sections:
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1.
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Types of Fractures
and their causes.
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2.
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Postural Deformities.
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3.
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Other Skeletal Conditions
and their causes and effects.
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Click on the links above or scroll down this
page.
(This is a long page so may take some time to download completely.)
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1. Types of Fractures (and their
causes)
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A fracture is breakage of a bone, this breakage
may be complete or incomplete.
The following table summarises six types of fracture.
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2. Postural Deformities
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3. Other Skeletal Conditions
(and their causes and effects)
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Condition
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Cause
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Effect
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Arthritis
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Over 200 diseases may cause arthritis,
including:
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Swelling, warmth, redness of the overlying
skin, pain, restriction of motion.
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Inflammation
of one or more joints
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osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
gout
tuberculosis, and other infections.
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Osteo Arthritis
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Osteo-arthritis is due to wear of the articulatory
cartilage, and may lead to secondary changes
in the underlying bone.
It may be primary, or it may occur secondarily
to abnormal load to the joint or damage
to the cartilage from inflammation or trauma.
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The joints are painful and stiff with restricted
movement. Osteoarthritis is recognized on
X-ray by narrowing of the joint space (due
to loss of cartilage) and the presence of
osteophytes, osteosclerosis, and cysts in
the bone.
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Degenerative
joint disease
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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease of the
synovial lining of joints: The joints are
initially painful, swollen, and stiff and
are usually affected symmetrically.
(Onset can be at any age, and these is considerable
risk of severity. Women are at greater risk.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease,
and most patients show presence of rheumatoid
factor in their serum*.)
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As the disease progresses the ligaments
supporting the joints are damaged and there
is erosion of the bone, leading to deformity
of the joints. Tendon sheaths can be affected,
leading to tendon rupture.
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(The
second most common form of arthritis, after
osteo arthritis)
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Bone Cancer
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Bone cancer may occur as a secondary cancer
from, for example, prostate cancer
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Damage to stem cells (the cause of leukaemia).
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Gout
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Gout is caused by a defect in uric acid
balance in the metabolism - resulting in
an excess of the acid and its salts (urates)
which then accumulate in the bloodstream
and joints, respectively.
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Gout can result in attacks of acute gouty
arthritis, chronic destruction of the joints,
and deposits of urates (tophi) in the skin
and cartilage - especially of the ears.
The excess urates also damage the kidneys,
in which stones may form.
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Osteoporosis
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Infection, injury and synovitis can cause
localized osteoporosis of adjacent bone.
Generalised osteoporosis is common in the
elderly, and in women often follows the
menopause. It is also a feature of Cushing's
disease and prolonged steroid therapy.
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Bones that are brittle and liable to fracture.
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Loss
of bone tissue.
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Rickets
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Rickets is a childhood condition caused
by insufficient vitamin D and Calcium
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Bow legs.
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Childhood
disease
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Serum (blood serum) is similar to blood plasma
except that it lacks fibrinogen and some other
substances that are used in the coagulation
process. |
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This is the end of this page about the skeletal disorders.
Information about the structure
and functions of bones, cranial
and facial bones and bones
of the feet and hands are also included on this website.
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... End of Article ...
Click here to return to the main
Revision Index.
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