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Muscle atrophy is the loss or thinning of muscle mass, which can be caused by a variety of factors, including immobility, aging, malnutrition, medications, and various injuries or diseases. The good news is that, in many cases, muscle atrophy can be reversed through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and treatment of the underlying condition. Treatment options may include physical therapy, ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, and in some cases, surgery. Phosphodiesterase inhibitors have also been found to effectively inhibit muscle atrophy and act as candidate drugs for prevention and treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Lack of physical activity, aging, malnutrition, medications, injuries, diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system, genetics, inflammation of joints, inflammation of muscles, nerve damage, mitochondrial dysfunction |
| Symptoms | Reduced muscle mass, muscle weakness, pain, stiffness, higher risk of falls, fractures, physical disability, vulnerability to infections, loss of function in limbs |
| Treatment | Physical therapy, functional electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, surgery, anabolic steroids, exercise, nutritional therapy, anabolic agents, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, optogenetic stimulation |
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What You'll Learn
Exercise and physical therapy
Physical therapy can help treat muscle atrophy by performing specific stretches and exercises to prevent immobility. Physical therapists can teach you the correct ways to exercise and recommend a regimen of resistance training to reverse the effects of disuse atrophy. They can also move your arms and legs for you if you have trouble moving.
Exercises that can help with muscle atrophy include:
- Leg raises: Lie on your back with one leg bent and the other straight. Slowly lift the straight leg to about a 45-degree angle, and then lower it. Repeat this exercise several times with one leg, and then do the same for your other leg.
- Squats: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body by bending at the knees and hips, as if sitting back into a chair, while keeping your chest up and knees aligned with your toes. Lower your body until the thighs are no further than parallel to the ground. Then, push your heels into the ground to return to a standing upright position.
- Push-ups: A great form of resistance exercise for improving upper body strength.
It is important to tailor an exercise routine to your needs with guidance from a healthcare provider to make a difference in your recovery.
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Nutrition and dietary changes
Muscle atrophy is the wasting or thinning of muscle mass. It can be caused by disuse of muscles or neurogenic conditions. Disuse atrophy can be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. Nutritional strategies to counteract muscle atrophy caused by disuse include:
- A nutrient-rich whole-food dietary approach, providing adequate levels of high-quality protein, is the foremost strategy to protect muscle mass and function.
- During immobilisation periods, one of the preferred approaches for nutritional support to limit muscle atrophy consists of protein/amino acid supplementation.
- Dietary polyphenols, which are widely distributed in numerous foods including vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, have been shown to contribute to the prevention of muscle atrophy.
- A diet with sufficient intake of beneficial foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain products, fish, nuts, and low-fat foods is useful for preventing sarcopenia.
- Vitamin D and leucine-enriched whey protein supplements may be useful for attenuating sarcopenia in geriatric patients, particularly those unable to exercise.
- Fermented rice bran supplementation has been shown to attenuate muscle atrophy in a diabetic rat model.
- Dietary menhaden fish oil, which contains omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid, could suppress muscle atrophy.
- A healthy diet, in combination with an appropriate exercise plan, is crucial for facilitating an anabolic response that may prevent muscle wasting with atrophy by suppressing the breakdown of muscle protein.
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Surgery and ultrasound therapy
While surgery and ultrasound therapy can be used to heal muscle atrophy, it is important to note that the effectiveness of these treatments varies depending on the cause and severity of the condition, as well as individual factors such as age and overall health. Here is some information on surgery and ultrasound therapy as treatments for muscle atrophy:
Surgery
In cases where muscle atrophy has led to contractures, surgery may be performed to correct the issue. A contracture occurs when muscle tissues become fibrous, making it difficult to stretch the muscle and limiting movement. Surgery can help address this issue and improve mobility. Additionally, surgery itself can be a cause of muscle atrophy, and specific treatments may be required to address this.
Focused Ultrasound Therapy
Focused ultrasound is a non-invasive therapeutic technology that has shown potential in addressing muscle atrophy. This technology uses ultrasound energy to target deep areas of the body precisely, generating non-thermal stimulation of angiogenesis on satellite cells. Preclinical research has shown that focused ultrasound can yield diminished muscle atrophy compared to controls. It offers a less invasive alternative to surgery with a reduced risk of complications and lower costs. However, it is important to note that focused ultrasound treatment for muscle atrophy is not yet approved by regulatory bodies or covered by medical insurance companies.
While surgery and ultrasound therapy can be potential treatments for muscle atrophy, it is always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most suitable treatment plan based on individual circumstances.
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Phosphodiesterase inhibitors and anabolic steroids
Phosphodiesterase inhibitors are a class of medications that interfere with certain types of chemical reactions in the blood, helping blood vessels relax and reducing inflammation. They are commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction and other conditions related to the heart and circulatory system.
Several studies have found that phosphodiesterase inhibitors can effectively inhibit muscle atrophy and act as candidate drugs for the prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy. In one study, phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) inhibitors reduced the loss of muscle mass and force resulting from denervation and casting in rats and mice. Another study found that torbafylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, could reverse the burn-induced upregulation of PDE4 activity and inhibit burn-induced muscle proteolysis in a rat model.
Pentoxifylline, a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, is FDA-approved for muscle pain caused by intermittent claudication in chronic peripheral arterial disease. It has also been shown to mitigate the loss of muscle mass under catabolic conditions, primarily by inhibiting protein degradation.
Anabolic steroids, on the other hand, are a class of drugs that mimic the effects of the male sex hormone testosterone. They have been used to treat various conditions, including muscle-wasting disorders, but their use is controversial due to their potential side effects and risk of abuse.
While anabolic steroids may be prescribed by doctors for certain medical conditions, they should only be used under strict medical supervision due to their potential health risks.
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Causes of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy, or muscle wasting, is the loss or thinning of muscle mass. It is usually caused by a lack of physical activity. However, there are several other factors that can lead to muscle atrophy.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Physiologic atrophy, or disuse atrophy, is caused by not using muscles enough. This can be due to a sedentary lifestyle, being bedridden, or having a seated job. This type of atrophy can often be reversed with exercise and better nutrition.
Ageing
Ageing is accompanied by a progressive decline in skeletal muscle mass and strength. The ageing process often leads to slow but progressive muscle atrophy.
Diseases
Diseases such as Cushing's disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can cause muscle atrophy. Pathologic atrophy is often seen with ageing and diseases such as Cushing's disease, which is caused by taking too much corticosteroid medication or having overactive adrenal glands.
Malnutrition and Alcohol Abuse
In some cases, muscle atrophy can be a symptom of serious malnutrition or alcohol-related muscle disease. Alcohol-associated myopathy, for example, causes pain and weakness in the muscles due to excessive drinking over long periods of time.
Nerve Problems
Neurogenic atrophy is caused by an injury to or disease of a nerve that connects to the muscle. This is the most severe type of muscle atrophy. It can be caused by neuromuscular diseases such as spinal cord atrophy, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Guillain-Barre syndrome.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle atrophy is the loss or thinning of muscle mass. It can be caused by immobility, aging, malnutrition, medications, or a wide range of injuries or diseases that impact the musculoskeletal or nervous system.
Muscle atrophy can occur due to nutrition issues, age, genetics, or lack of physical activity.
Treatment for muscle atrophy depends on the type and severity of muscle loss and any underlying medical conditions. Physical therapy is the leading treatment option for muscle atrophy. It involves performing specific stretches and exercises to prevent immobility. Ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, and in some cases, surgery are also used to treat muscle atrophy.
Yes, muscle atrophy can often be reversed through regular exercise and proper nutrition in addition to getting treatment for the condition that's causing it.
