CARE OF THE BODY’S INDIVIDUAL PARTS: JOINTS, LIGAMENTS, AND BURSAE
Joints and ligaments connect the bones to one another. The joints provide the smooth, gliding surfaces at the ends of the bones so that movements can be carried out easily and painlessly. A joint consists of a fibrous sheath that is attached to the smooth end of the bones. Nature provides a special material, called cartilage, for the ends of the bones concerned in our bodily movements. This material has special resiliency and smoothness so that fingers, arms, and legs can move thousands of times daily without our being actually conscious of their activities.
To bind bones together, or to strengthen joints, nature uses a special type of tough binding cord called ligaments. These are attached to the bones so well that only exceptional strains will tear a ligament away from the bone. A similar type of tough connective tissue that connects muscles to bones is called a tendon.
A final element in the wonderful, smooth, and effective movement of our joints is the bursa. This is a sac, or bag, with smooth surfaces, containing a small amount of lubricating material. The bursa permits the smoother functioning of the joints.
The everyday care of the joints, ligaments, and bursae is extremely important to you. An injured joint, a torn ligament, or an inflamed bursa can interfere seriously with your enjoyment of life—or incapacitate you for work. It is of primary importance that you work with—not against—nature so that there will be no extra stresses on joints, ligaments, and bursae. That means keeping a normal weight; if you are greatly overweight, you are overloading the joints of the knees and feet every time you stand or walk. Good posture also keeps the joints in their best condition, because weight is distributed as nature intended. Good physical condition prevents the joints from being strained by lifting and strenuous sports.
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