The musculoskeletal system includes the bones of the skeleton and the cartilage, ligaments, and other connective tissues and muscles.
The integumentary system includes the skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and nerves on the skin.
There is a relationship between the neurological system and the musculoskeletal system in that the brain and nerves tell the voluntary muscles what to do.
Nutrition plays a key role in the development and maintenance of a healthy musculoskeletal and integumentary system.
Within the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems, nutrition affects a person’s immune system, inflammatory response, level of edema, bone formation, bone health, fracture healing, wound healing, and hair and nail health.
Nurse assessment and screening tests for the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems are essential for the overall success of client care.
Client teaching, including nutritional meal planning, is important to the overall care of the musculoskeletal and integumentary systems.
The client must be assessed for readiness to learn before educating the client about lifestyle changes including nutrition.
Evaluation of nutritional strategies include client adherence. The nurse must be able to recognize barriers to adherence with overall client health care.