The capacity of muscular and osteoarticular effort requires a longer adaptation period and falls may happen during the effort. The normal aging of the osteo articular system may be appreciated with the aid of quantitative and qualitative indicators. The bone involution after the growing period shows that the bone volume diminishes progressively with the advance in age, with some peculiarities in women. The psychological osteopenia and the involutive modifications of the other elements of the osteo articular system may be accentuated in old people by protein, calcium and vitamin D deficiency, in various digestive and endocrine diseases, or due to iatrogenic causes. Age related changes in the joint can be found in almost all people over 65.
Joints become increasingly misshapen.
Aging of cartilage is associated with biochemical modifications. The content of water decreases, but proteoglycan content remains unchanged, thus undergoing changes. Metabolical changes in cartilage or changes in joint biomechanics make easier the development of the osteoarthritis process. By its frequency and medico-social implications, arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have an important place in rheumatology. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the elderly.