What would be a great Mother’s Day Gift? We at Advanced Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine offer an idea- the gift of good health. Health could be one of the most important gifts you could give your mother this year, and with good health comes happiness.
In depth analyses have shown that woman are more prone to certain musculoskeletal conditions due to:
- Female anatomy
- Vitamin Deficiencies
- Pregnancy Obesity
- Menopause
- Other related conditions
Risks for musculoskeletal conditions in woman compared to men can typically be attributed to decreased overall muscular strength and bone size. Biologically, women have more fat deposition and looser ligaments or tissue that support the bones and joints, including a wider pelvic area among others. These differences place extra pressure on the spine, joints, feet and other areas.
Pregnancy affects the spine as the body tries to accommodate the extra body weight, pulling the curvature of the spine inwards. This is called lordosis.
When there is too much pressure on the outer side of the knee it can cause a tear in the tissue that supports the knee joint referred to as the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear. Pressure on the nerves of the feet can cause the tissues to become denser and thicker called Morton’s Neuroma, a painful condition in the foot and toes. Wearing high heels can cause injuries like Sprained Ankles.
Menopause causes decreases in estrogen hormones, which can cause conditions like osteoporosis, which is the loss of bone mass, known to lead to falls and fractures. Vitamin D and Calcium deficiencies can also be risk factors.
Rheumatoid Arthritis is a condition where there is pain and stiffness in the joints due to self-destruction of joints and is also more commonly seen in women.
There are numerous conditions that affect woman, and the ones discussed here are just a few. Having a thorough evaluation done which includes combing over your complete medical history, blood tests, imaging to rule out or diagnose certain conditions. Pain management, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, weight management and other interventions could be considered.
If you have symptoms consistent with any of these conditions make an appointment with Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine today.