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Mechanics of Function
Human mobility and the activities of daily living necessitate the coordinated action of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. The term "Mechanics of Function" refers to way in which the tissues, organs and multiple components that make up the human musculoskeletal system function, both independently and in an interrelated way. It should not be surprising that impairments to the musculoskeletal system are the leading cause of limitations in activity for people of all ages. Impairments to the musculoskeletal system occur at the cell and tissue level (e.g., damage to cartilage cells leading to degenerative arthritis), the organ level (e.g., torn ligaments and fractured bones) and at the systems level (e.g., deficits involving multiple body segments, such as the upper or lower limb). Musculoskeletal conditions affect not only ones general health and quality of life, but they also are responsible for a substantial portion of our national health care costs.
We believe that improving VA patient care and rehabilitation must begin by a better understanding the development and function of the musculoskeletal system in the non-diseased state. Experience has shown that the maintenance of a healthy musculoskeletal system is usually a simpler and less expensive task in comparison with its repair after injury or disease. With osteoporosis, for example, it is much more difficult to replace lost bone mass in an elderly patient than it is to acquire and maintain bone mass during adolescence and young adulthood.
Nevertheless, injuries and disease do occur and once a condition such as degenerative arthritis or stroke is present, our focus naturally shifts from prevention and maintenance to restoration of function and rehabilitation. In these cases, clinical protocols for the restoration of musculoskeletal integrity and patient rehabilitation must be based upon a sound knowledge of fundamental physiologic and bioengineering principals. To acquire this knowledge we make use of a variety of approaches including, computer modeling and simulations, biological and biochemical studies, mechanical testing, and patient studies.
The knowledge gained from these studies is disseminated to other rehabilitation colleagues, researchers and clinicians around the country and throughout the world primarily through articles in national and international journals and presentations at conferences and symposia. The results of our studies have led to new insights into critically important questions related to the changing function and demands of the musculoskeletal system during development, growth, adaptation and aging. These studies influence in a fundamental and important way the thinking and the process by which others in the rehabilitation community approach patient treatment and rehabilitation, which, in turn, translates directly into an improved quality of life and sense of independence for the aging or infirm veteran.