What Are the Human Joints and How Many Are There?
When we were still at school, we learned that our human body is composed of 206 bones, which are controlled by 650 muscles and 143 joints. This allows us to accomplish various tasks in our daily lives. Within our human body, there are seven major joints, including the shoulder joint, elbow joint, hip joint, knee joint, and others, as well as some smaller joints. These are the important ways of connecting our bones.
There are 143 joints in the human body, which are important connections of the skeletal system. They function as hinges, levers, and shock absorbers. There are seven major joints in the human body, including the cervical joint, shoulder joint, hip joint, knee joint, elbow joint, ankle joint, and lumbar joint. Each joint is crucial for our well-being.
a. Leverage: In human movement, bones act as levers, and joints serve as fulcrums. When skeletal muscles contract and apply force to the levers, various movements can be accomplished through the fulcrums to achieve desired outcomes. Joints play a pivotal role in this process.
b. Cushioning: Joints provide cushioning when we walk, run, or experience external forces. For example, they cushion the weight of the body during running and reduce the burden on the bones. When subjected to external forces, joints can greatly reduce and mitigate the damage sustained, protecting the body from excessive injury.
c. Load Bearing: Joints have a load-bearing function, which means they can gradually transfer weight from top to bottom, supporting and carrying the body's weight. For instance, the hip joint transmits the weight of the trunk to the lower limbs.
a. Elderly individuals should be aware that their joint flexibility and resilience are not as good as younger people's. When exercising or doing housework, they should avoid overexertion, such as carrying heavy objects or climbing to reach high places. They should minimize bending, climbing, squatting, and other movements to minimize the risk of joint damage.
b. Avoid keeping a joint in the same position for an extended period, such as standing for a long time, bending the knees, or sitting in front of a TV or computer. This can lead to poor blood circulation in the muscles surrounding the knee, cervical, and lumbar joints, eventually leading to joint damage. It is recommended to frequently change sitting positions and foot positions, stretch the lower limbs, or get up and move around. Avoid prolonged finger flexion movements, such as writing, knitting, typing, or repairing, to protect the finger joints.
c. Maintain correct posture when sleeping, walking, or sitting, and never force joints to do more than they can handle. For example, when breaking a walnut shell, avoid using your teeth or fingers to avoid damaging them.
