Age is a Risk Factor

Progression in the field of medicine and science is responsible for increasing the life expectancy of the population. Whilst this is an achievement to be proud of, we know that ageing increased the chronic health risks such as an MSK condition. By 65 years of age, almost 1 in 2 people with a heart condition (47.1%), lung disease (49.2%) or mental health condition (47.3%) also have a MSK condition. The presence of any long-term condition is associated with a substantial drop-in quality of life, but when arthritis or back pain is present, the drop is greater.

As people age, they take part in less physical activity – in the 19 to 24-year age group 76.6% of people are physically active compared to 24.7% in individuals aged over 85 years. Data from Health Profile for England shows there are now half a million people in the UK in their 90s: more than two and a half times the number in 1985.