Enfermedad articular degenerativa y cambios entesiales en seis colecciones óseas prehispánicas del noroccidente de américa del sur

Abstract

Degenerative joint disease (DJD) and entheseal changes (EC) were studied in six Pre-Hispanic skeletal collections from the northwest of South America, in order to give insight both into their relationship with physical activity and into life conditions in this region during Pre-Columbian times. Three series from the highlands of Colombia (Soacha, Marín and Tunja-UPTC), two series from Panama (Panamá Viejo and Sitio Sierra) and one from the Central Coast of Peru (Ancón 1) were analyzed for this study. The use of a standardized methodology allowed direct comparisons between the frequencies and the profiles of DJD and EC. An important variability in profiles and frequencies was observed between series. However, it was also possible to observe several similar trends in series from analogous environments. There is a mismatch between results from DJD and EC which may indicate that, despite having a multi-factorial aetiology, they may respond to different types of physical activity: repetitive activity would be more related to DJD, while activities involving heavy loads would be more connected with EC.