Musculoskeletal diseases in seniors are associated with very high levels of pain, disability and death and are the most common reason that patients seek medical care.
The overarching objective of the Musculoskeletal Research Center is to conduct research and disseminate findings on common musculoskeletal conditions of aging such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, hyperkyphosis (excessive forward curvature), sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass) and foot disorders, as well as biomechanics of the skeletal system.
We promote interdisciplinary research to understand the mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal diseases. We test interventions to prevent the occurrence of disease, their progression and disabling outcomes in older adults. The Musculoskeletal Research Center is the home of the Framingham Osteoporosis Study, the Framingham Spine Health Study, and the Framingham Foot Study, which have contributed to the understanding of risk factors for fracture, hyperkyphosis and for foot disorders and pain. These studies have also led to innovative original research in other related musculoskeletal conditions by our talented faculty and staff.