In Part 1 of my recently published article, I introduced the need to think about the older workforce. Here in Part 2, my article continues.
Main Physiological Impacts of Increasing Age on our Neuromusculoskeletal systems
Soft Tissue Structures:
Physiological impacts of age.
Bone and Joints:
As a person ages, the balance between bone absorption and bone formation changes, ultimately resulting in a loss of bone tissue. This is largely due to the mineral content of bones decreasing, making them less dense and more fragile. This may result in osteoporotic changes, making an individual more prone to poor posture, to crush fractures of the vertebrae and to fractures throughout the body.
The main effects on joints of ageing are a reduction in flexibility and reduced ‘cushioning’ from cartilage which may lead to inflammation and pain.
Ultimately these changes are likely to have a detrimental impact on an individual’s ability to undertake physical work tasks. For example, reduced strength and joint mobility will adversely affect the ability to perform strenuous manual handling tasks. Obesity and pain will further reduce function. Multi-site pain is an important risk factor for reduced work ability (Miranda et al 2009). All these factors may predispose an individual to adverse postural changes, which in turn creates more loading on the neuromusculoskeletal system.
Due to the complexity of issues such as occupational risk factors, lifestyle and genetics, it is difficult to determine at what age an individual’s physiological decline may be due to age. Despite this, Raven and Mitchell (1980) indicate that on average, strength begins to decline around the age of 40.
Physical Capacity
Current Supporting Evidence, from Crawford 2011: Systemic Review of Literature states that
- Reduction in aerobic capacity occurs at a rate of approximately 10% for each decade
- Increase in weight1
- Reduction in stature1
- Increase in BMI
- Reduction in muscle strength1
These factors can be mediated by maintaining high levels of physical activity (Crawford 2011).
Balance Mechanisms
It is more difficult to maintain balance as a person ages due to changes in balance receptors (Harper and Marcuss 2006) and due to other common deficits that occur with age such as reduced visual abilities, pain syndromes and potential lack of joint proprioception associated with this. In turn an individual is more prone to slips, trips and falls, which may cause a traumatic musculoskeletal complaint or cause an existing complaint to be aggravated.
Psychological and Cognitive Functioning
Depression is most common in elderly population groups (Harper and Marcuss 2006). The main manifestations of depression such as a reduced interest in activities and hobbies and general low mood will have negative consequences on the neuromusculoskeletal health of an elderly person.
Age-Related Cognitive Decline (ARCD) includes:
- Working memory loss
- Processing problems
- Encoding problems (putting information into memory)
- Retrieval (finding information in memory)
- Reduced attention and concentration span (Harper and Marcuss 2006)
ARCD may adversely affect an employee’s ability to undertake effective ‘risk assessment’ or recall correct procedures in the work place, thus predisposing them to injury from undertaking poor manual handling techniques when undertaking work tasks. This must be balanced against the positive impacts of ageing such as increased experience and knowledge that may help to negate other unfavourable effects.
Psychological Changes (Current Supporting Evidence, from Crawford 2011: Systemic Review of Literature)
- Reduction in reaction time due to increased central processing time1
- Increase in caution1
- Increase in accumulated knowledge and experience1
- Cognitive abilities affected by numerous external and internal factors1
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1 Moderate evidence provided by generally consistent findings in few, small or low quality scientific studies.
To be continued in Part 3…
