Bones & Joints

The Structure of the Skeleton

The human skeleton consists of a total of 206 bones, which vary greatly in shape and size. The skull, along with the spine, ribs, and sternum, forms the central part of the skeleton. Attached to this base are the bones of the arms, legs, shoulder blades, collarbones, and pelvis. All these bones are connected to each other and can move relative to each other in many places thanks to various bone connections, also known as joints. There are also places where no movement is possible, such as in the bones of the skull.

How is Movement Achieved?

The movement and bending of your body occur with the help of joints and muscle strength. Joints connect the ends of two bones together and allow you to move your arms, legs, or thumbs, for example. There are different types of joints, including hinge, ball-and-socket, pivot, and saddle joints. The ends of the bones in a joint are covered with cartilage to cushion shocks, similar to the soles of our shoes. The cartilage is also lubricated with a viscous fluid to keep the joints smooth during movement. Ligaments on the sides of a joint keep the bones in place, and muscles run over the joints from one bone to another. When you contract your muscles, they pull on the bones and thus provide movement.

Strong Bones and Joints

How do we keep our bones healthy and strong? Movement and relaxation play an important role in this. Sleep is important because it allows our body to recover from a good night's rest and build new (bone) tissues. On average, an adult needs 7 to 9 hours of sleep. Exercise is necessary to keep your joints flexible and strengthen your muscles. The muscles around your joints ensure that your joints remain stable, that there is no play in them, and that they are evenly loaded.

Nutrients for Your Skeleton

Nutrition also plays an important role in keeping your bones healthy. For example, vitamin D is important for maintaining strong bones and muscles. In the body, vitamin D helps extract calcium from food in the intestines and transfer it to the skeleton. Sunlight is the primary source of this vitamin, but you can also support your joints, bones, and muscles in your body with vitamin D supplements. Did you know that vitamin K also contributes to maintaining strong bones? This vitamin stimulates the storage of calcium in the bones, where this mineral is much needed. In addition to calcium, magnesium is equally important for strong bones. Magnesium converts vitamin D into an active form, a form necessary for the proper absorption of calcium into the bones. Ergomax offers various products that can support your bones, muscles, and joints. Consider products like MegaFood's Calcium & Magnesium Formula, Ergomax's Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin, Broth of Life's Chicken Bone Broth, and Doctor's Best's Calcium Bone Complex - MCH-Cal™.