Early intervention prevents musculoskeletal decline, improves senior citizens’ quality of life

The Universiti Malaya Social Wellbeing Research Centre estimates the number of Malaysians aged 60 years and above will reach 6.3 million by 2040, which is around two out of every 10 Malaysians.

Not only is the number of our ageing population growing exponentially, their life expectancy is projected to rise as well. As a point of comparison, men whose age in 2019 was 65 years are projected to live an additional 14.8 years to nearly 80; while women aged 65 in 2019 are expected to live a further 17.1 years to about 82 years. [Available at: https://www.dosm.gov.my/v1/index.php?r=column/pdfPrev&id=YnV4S1FyVnNzUWJlQ3F5NHVMeFY3UT09 Accessed on 4 January 2021]

As our population ages, it is pertinent for the elderly to maintain their musculoskeletal health—which is closely linked to one’s mobility, flexibility, balance, and quality of life. Musculoskeletal health is one of the primary factors in helping people to live their lives independently, according to Dr Nor I’zzati Saedon, geriatric consultant and senior lecturer of internal medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Maintenance of musculoskeletal wellbeing begins with building and sustaining bones, muscles and joints that will continue to be healthy for many years to come. The musculoskeletal system supplies the body with shape, support, stability, and movement. It consists of skeletal bones, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints, and other connective tissues that sustain and link tissues and organs together.

I’zzati said: “It is easy for middle-aged adults in their 40s to not notice their own musculoskeletal health when they don’t have any condition, such as pain resulting from injury or bad posture. Being able to walk requires strength, flexibility and balance. Simple tasks like eating and dressing needs dexterity of the hands and wrists. Being able to reach up, bend over and squat down, allows people to carry out everyday activities like gardening, cooking and cleaning. Any individual would like to continue to be able to do all these without any support and assistance, especially when they progress into their 60s and beyond.”

Speaking from the angle of nutrition,  Megawati Suzari, director of New Product Development, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Fonterra Brands Malaysia, emphasized the importance of caring for the mobility of middle-aged adults through the maintenance of strong bones, joints and muscles, which are also important for active living and healthy ageing. “On top of improving lifestyle by becoming physically active, adopting a good dietary habit is equally important,” she said.

Megawati brought to attention a recent study that emphasized the importance, as part of a healthy diet, of both daily exercise and milk consumption. It demonstrated that participants who drank two glasses of milk added with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and essential nutrients daily plus exercised thrice weekly showed improved endurance, balance and muscle mass compared to control. [Am J Clin Nutr 2020;112(2):427–446]

I’zzati and Megawati were speaking at the launch of Anlene^TM ACTIFIT 3X™ and GOLD 5X™, formulated to provide important nutrients for adults. Also present was Calvin Shun, a chiropractor, who said bone mass may start to deteriorate from early 30s onwards, hence the need to maintain healthy weight, regular exercise, and strong bones while attending to small injuries before they get worse.