Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common medical problems in the United States. It can range from a dull, constant ache to sudden, sharp pain that makes it hard to move.Bursitis
What is bursitis? It is a common condition that causes swelling and pain around muscles and bones.Fibromyalgia
Doctors don't yet know the exact causes of Fibromyalgia. Find out more about this muscle-pain & fatigue causing chronic disorder.Fibrous Dysplasia
What is fibrous dysplasia? It happens when healthy bone is replaced with other types of tissue. Bones may become weak or oddly shaped, or they may even break.Growth Plate Injuries
Injuries to the growth plate happen when a break or fracture develops near or at the end of a long bone.Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue
There are more than 200 heritable disorders of connective tissue, and they are related to problems in genes responsible for building connective tissues.Hip Replacement Surgery
Hip replacement surgery removes damaged or diseased parts of a hip joint and replaces them with new, artificial parts.Joint Replacement Surgery
Joint replacement surgery removes damaged or diseased parts of a joint and replaces them with new, man-made parts.Knee Problems
Knee problems happen when you injure or develop disease in your knee and it can’t do its job.Marfan Syndrome
What is Marfan syndrome? It is a disorder that affects connective tissue, which supports many parts of your body. Marfan syndrome is often a genetic disease.Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Osteogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disease, also called brittle bone disease, that causes bones to be weak and break easily.Osteonecrosis
What is osteonecrosis? Osteonecrosis is a bone disease in which the bone begins to die and collapse. Find out the symptoms and goals of treatment.Osteopetrosis
What is osteopetrosis? It is a rare disorder that causes bones to grow abnormally and become too dense. When this happens, bones can break easily.Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis? It is a disease in which your bones become weak and are more likely to break. There are no symptoms until a bone breaks.Paget’s Disease of Bone
What is Paget’s disease? It is a disorder that causes bones to grow too large and weaken. You can have Paget’s disease in any bones in your body.Scoliosis in Children and Teens
What is scoliosis? It is a disorder causing a sideways curve of the spine. Curves are often S- or C-shaped. In most people, there is no known cause for this curve.Shoulder Problems
Most shoulder problems happen when soft tissues in the shoulder region break down. The various causes and symptoms depend on the type of shoulder problem.Spinal Stenosis
What is spinal stenosis? It is the narrowing of the spine. This narrowing puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves and can cause pain.Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are injuries that happen when playing sports or exercising. There are two kinds of sports injuries: acute and chronic.Sports Injuries in Youth: A Guide for Parents
Parents learn about common sports injuries among youth and the ways to prevent such injuries from happening.Sprains and Strains
A sprain is an injury to a ligament (tissue that connects bones). A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon (cords of tissue connecting muscle to bone).Tendinitis
What is tendinitis? It is swelling and pain in a joint usually caused by repeated injuries to a tendon, the part of the joint that connects muscles to bones.Selected Research Areas
Clinical and Investigative Orthopedics Surgery Unit
Led by Dr. Timothy Bhattacharyya, the unit investigates orthopedic conditions, including femur fractures and hip infections, and related treatments.Scientific Publications
Muscle and Bone Disease News
Press Release | July 27, 2020
Fewer hip fractures may be associated with reductions in smoking, heavy drinking
Press Release | March 31, 2020
NIH researchers discover gene for rare disease of excess bone tissue growth
Announcement | November 15, 2019
NIAMS and NIA Outline Next Steps Following Osteoporosis Pathways to Prevention Federal Partners’ Meeting
Press Release | September 26, 2019
NIH funds $945 million in research to tackle the national opioid crisis through NIH HEAL Initiative
Spotlight on Research | August 23, 2016
New Insights About Excess Bone Formation in Rare Disease Lead to Potential Drug Treatments
Two recent studies on a rare genetic disorder that causes excess bone to form have greatly contributed to our understanding of how the disease progresses, and have identified promising treatment options. The studies, funded in part by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), were conducted in mice and published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Spotlight on Research | March 1, 2016
Dog with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Escapes the Disease, Spurring Interest in Potential New Treatment Approach
A golden retriever carrying the gene mutation for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) unexpectedly remained healthy for life, sparking interest in a new avenue of investigation into DMD treatment. The study, which was published in the journal Cell and supported in part by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), revealed that a gene not known to be linked to DMD may hold promise for counteracting the effects of the muscle wasting disease.