The average Brit has joints more than a decade older than their actual age, according to extensive research conducted by Seven Seas JointCare.
The research, which includes a review of data collected from over 13,000 adults, reveals shocking neglect of our joints with everything from getting out of bed to going on holiday being hampered by problems.
In addition to the significant impact on quality of life, our joint aches and pains are also impacting the economy, costing the UK an estimated £5.7 billion annually - equivalent to the spending cuts announced by the new Government in May 2010 to tackle UK debt.
Not only are one in four of all GP consultations in the UK related to a musculoskeletal problem, but over 10 million working days are lost due to musculoskeletal conditions, second only to mental wellbeing.
A ticking timebomb for the young
The research, including data collected from online tool the Joint Age Calculator, showed that younger people have a much greater disparity between joint age and actual age compared with older people, posing worrying questions for the future.
Nearly two fifths of 25-34 year olds had a joint age of over 501 with almost 80% of 25-34 year olds having joints that ache, twinge or cause pain at least once a month (39% on a daily basis).
Despite this, two thirds (66%) admit that they don’t actively look after their joints and confess to spending more money and time on hair appointments (26%), home improvements (25%), researching holidays (22%) and car maintenance (21%) than their joint health.
Leading osteopath and co-creator of the Seven Seas Joint Age Calculator, Torben Hersborg comments: "The results of the research are worrying. Every day in my clinic I see both the consequences of years of neglect and of younger people taking their joints for granted.
"For individuals the statistics are concerning because when we talk about joint problems we are talking about mobility and ultimately our freedom to live independently, when the majority of cases could be prevented."
There are currently over 70,000 knee replacements carried out every year in the UK but experts predict a staggering 700% increase by 2030,5 just one warning sign of the urgent need to protect our joints now.
A weighty issue
Whilst sports injuries and accidents are common causes of joint issues, it is everyday wear and tear that healthcare professionals (HCPs) and consumers overwhelmingly report as the greatest cause of joint problems.
Hand in hand with this are our ever-expanding waistlines, with the overweight on average adding an additional five years to their joint age. Latest government figures show almost a quarter of us are now clinically obese and unsurprisingly HCPs reported obesity as the second most common reason for dodgy joints.
The research demonstrates that the vast majority of our joint problems are the result of changeable lifestyle decisions. Celebrity personal trainer Matt Roberts believes we must take action fast:
"This is a problem that we can do something about right now. Obtaining and maintaining a healthy weight is about good diet and nutrition alongside appropriate, regular exercise.
"When I’m training my clients, in addition to eating a healthy diet containing oily fish, I often recommend that they take a supplement containing both glucosamine and additional omega-3 nutrients.
"Both nutrients are really good for helping to maintain supple and flexible joints, and glucosamine is particularly difficult to obtain from the diet."
Feeding the problem
The picture painted of our lifestyle and diet from the combined research is rather different to the recommendations from leading health, fitness and nutrition experts. Whilst 76% and 53% of joint specialists recommend that their patients take a glucosamine and omega-3 supplements respectively to help maintain joint health, only 13% of 35-44 year olds take a glucosamine supplement, despite over 20% of this group having already been diagnosed with a joint problem and 74% having joints that ache or make a creaking sound.
The under 25s are a particularly worrying group in terms of future joint health as not only do they eat the least oily fish (just 30% of under 25s eat one portion of oily fish a week), they are also the least likely to take an omega-3 supplement and show the greatest disparity between theoretical joint age and actual biological age.
On average under 25s have a joint age which is approximately double that of their own, adding on approximately 23 years.