Logan Steele
Muscle atrophy is the loss of muscle mass. It occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis, leading to a reduction in the cross-sectional area of myofibers and decreased muscle strength. Potential triggers of muscle atrophy include long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing, and various serious and often chronic diseases, such as chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer, and dystrophies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Loss of muscle |
| Causes | Long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing, chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer, dystrophies, injury, starvation, disease, bed rest, nerve damage |
| Diagnosis | Physical exam, blood test, muscle or nerve biopsy, electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan |
| Reversibility | Physiologic atrophy can be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet; neurogenic atrophy cannot be reversed due to physical nerve damage |
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What You'll Learn
Muscle atrophy and protein synthesis
Muscle atrophy is the term used to describe the loss of muscle. It occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis, leading to a reduction in the cross-sectional area of myofibers and decreased muscle strength. Potential triggers of muscle wasting include long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing, and various serious and often chronic diseases, such as chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer, and dystrophies.
Atrophy is especially common in older adults, which is called sarcopenia. It may also occur as a result of injury, starvation, disease, bed rest, nerve damage, and other health-related issues. Physiologic atrophy can be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. The most effective methods for reversing atrophy are the same as those used to prevent it: staying active, physical therapy, passive movements, and maintaining adequate nutrition.
Once you feel ready to become active again, the muscle weakness of atrophy combined with the weakness of your illness can be a challenging hurdle. Keeping your expectations reasonable and planning on making gradual improvements can help keep you from getting discouraged. Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery, and you should be sure to take advantage of the resources available to you.
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Muscle atrophy and immobilisation
Muscle atrophy is a term used to describe the loss of muscle. Atrophy may occur from injury, starvation, disease, bed rest, nerve damage, and other health-related issues. It is defined as a decrease in muscle mass and it occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis. Potential triggers of muscle wasting are long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing as well as various serious and often chronic diseases, such as chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer, and dystrophies.
Atrophy is especially common in older adults, which is called sarcopenia. The muscular system provides strength, endurance in movement, stabilisation, and protection. Physiologic atrophy is a condition that can be reversed. The rebuilding of muscles takes time, and the most effective methods for reversing atrophy are the same as those used to prevent atrophy—staying active, physical therapy, passive movements, and maintaining adequate nutrition. Once you feel ready to become active again, the muscle weakness of atrophy combined with the weakness of your illness can be a challenging hurdle. Keeping your expectations reasonable and planning on making gradual improvements can help keep you from getting discouraged.
To diagnose muscle atrophy, your healthcare provider will give you a physical exam and ask you about your symptoms. They’ll look at your arms and legs and measure your muscle mass. In addition, your healthcare provider may order tests, including blood tests, muscle or nerve biopsies, and nerve conduction studies. Disuse (physiologic) atrophy can sometimes be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. Working out in the water can reduce your muscle workload. Neurogenic atrophy typically can't be reversed because of the physical damage that’s been done to your nerves.
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Muscle atrophy and malnutrition
Muscle atrophy is a term used to describe the loss of muscle. It is defined as a decrease in muscle mass and occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis. Potential triggers of muscle wasting include long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing, chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer and dystrophies. Atrophy is especially common in older adults, which is called sarcopenia.
Physiologic atrophy is a condition that can be reversed. The rebuilding of muscles takes time, but the most effective methods for reversing atrophy are the same as those used to prevent it: staying active, physical therapy, passive movements, and maintaining adequate nutrition. Once you are ready to become active again, the muscle weakness of atrophy combined with the weakness of your illness can be a challenging hurdle. Keeping your expectations reasonable and planning on making gradual improvements can help keep you from getting discouraged.
Disuse (physiologic) atrophy can sometimes be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. Working out in the water can reduce your muscle workload. Neurogenic atrophy typically can't be reversed because of the physical damage that's been done to your nerves.
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Muscle atrophy and ageing
Muscle atrophy is a term used to describe the loss of muscle. It occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis, leading to a reduction in the cross-sectional area of myofibers and decreased muscle strength. Potential triggers of muscle wasting include long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing, and various serious and often chronic diseases, such as chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer, and dystrophies.
Ageing is a common cause of muscle atrophy, especially in older adults, a condition known as sarcopenia. The loss of muscle mass and strength associated with ageing can be attributed to a combination of factors, including decreased physical activity, reduced muscle protein synthesis, increased muscle protein breakdown, and changes in hormone levels.
To prevent and manage muscle atrophy related to ageing, it is essential to stay physically active and engage in regular exercise. Resistance training, such as weight lifting or bodyweight exercises, can help stimulate muscle growth and maintain muscle mass. Additionally, adequate nutrition is crucial, ensuring sufficient protein intake to support muscle synthesis.
In some cases, muscle atrophy due to ageing can be reversed through targeted interventions. Physiotherapy and passive movements can aid in improving muscle strength and function. Working out in a pool or performing aquatic exercises can be beneficial, as the buoyancy of the water reduces the workload on the muscles. Maintaining a healthy diet and staying physically active are crucial not only for preventing muscle atrophy but also for overall health and well-being as we age.
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Muscle atrophy and neurological illness
Muscle atrophy is a term used to describe the loss of muscle. It occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis, leading to a reduction of the cross-sectional area of myofibers and decreased muscle strength. It can be caused by injury, starvation, disease, bed rest, nerve damage, and other health-related issues. It is especially common in older adults, where it is called sarcopenia.
Neurogenic atrophy is caused by physical damage to nerves. It can be a result of neurological illness, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Guillain-Barre syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, or spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). SMA is a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and voluntary muscle movement. It involves the loss of nerve cells called motor neurons in the spinal cord, which do not receive signals from these nerve cells.
Physiologic atrophy is a condition that can be reversed. It is caused by disuse of muscles and can start within two to three weeks of not using the muscles. It can be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet.
Treatment for muscle atrophy caused by neurological illness may include physical therapy, nutritional intervention, or surgery.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle atrophy is the loss of muscle. It occurs when protein degradation exceeds protein synthesis.
Muscle atrophy can be caused by long-term immobilisation, malnutrition, severe burns, ageing, chronic heart failure, obstructive lung disease, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, immune disorders, cancer and dystrophies. It can also be caused by injury, starvation, disease, bed rest, nerve damage and other health-related issues.
Physiologic atrophy can be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. Neurogenic atrophy, however, cannot be reversed because of the physical damage that's been done to the nerves.
