That of course limits your oxygen intake, which by itself can be a factor in making you age faster. You want your respiratory system to stay youthful, along with your blood vessels and inner structures as well. Being able to breathe deeply is part of sustaining inner youthfulness.
Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer based in Salt Lake City who writes on the science of anti-aging and staying youthful at adventuresportsweekly. Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited.
All rights reserved. To order copies of Toronto Star articles, please go to: www. But first, here are a few things to think about: 1.
Report an error. Journalistic Standards. About The Star. All of this is normal aging. There are several factors that predispose us to have altered posture as we age and each will be considered. But before mentioning each factor, it is important to know that our bones, muscles and joints are all part of the musculoskeletal system that defines our posture.
The backbone or vertebral column is made up of the bones called vertebra , joint-like spaces called intervertebral discs, and muscles. Age has a pronounced effect on all three and over time the back tends to curve forward resulting in an increasingly stooped posture. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are medical terms that mean loss of bone density — little to more, respectively. There is loss of calcium in the bones and this produces the loss of density.
This begins in women at menopause and in men around age There can be slight reduction of size of less dense bones in the spine that could contribute to posture. The major factor that contributes to spinal curvature is the change in the intervertebral discs. Between each vertebra there is a gelatin-like cartilage that separates the vertebra. With age, these discs harden and lose flexibility with the inevitable result of compressed total length of the spine and a forward tilt called kyphosis.
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You can also install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site. While it is true that poor posture can contribute to a hunched-over appearance, there are usually other factors at play that force the back to hunch forward. These are 3 of the most common reasons an elderly person could have a hunched-over posture. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bones to become weak, brittle, and thin.
Our bones are constantly breaking down and rebuilding themselves to stay strong and healthy. Osteoporosis can weaken the bones to the point that even a minor stress like bending over or coughing can result in a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures can occur anywhere, but they are very common in the spine.
Osteoporosis can weaken the vertebrae, causing them to narrow or shrink. Over time, this can cause a person to lose height, and the change in posture could lead to a hunched or rounded back.
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