ABSTRACT
The skeleton enables movement for locomotion and provides physical support and protection for internal organs. It also acts as a reservoir in the body for minerals, particularly calcium. The structure of bone confers ‘strength with lightness’, so that transporting the skeleton around is not a metabolic burden. As people age, bone strength decreases and bones become more fragile with an increased propensity to fracture. Low muscle strength and poor
balance in elderly people compound this problem by increasing the likelihood of a fall that may precipitate a fracture.
