Dominic Stone
Muscle wastage, or atrophy, is the decrease in size and wasting of muscle tissue. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including disuse or physiologic atrophy, which occurs when muscles are not used enough, and neurogenic atrophy, which is caused by nerve problems or diseases. Age, genetics, malnutrition, and certain medical conditions can also contribute to muscle wastage. Diseases associated with skeletal muscle atrophy include neuromuscular diseases, cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, and acute critical illnesses. In addition, certain genetic conditions such as muscular dystrophy can lead to progressive muscle weakness and wasting. Treatments for muscle wastage include exercise, proper nutrition, physical therapy, and in some cases, surgery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Muscle atrophy | Disuse atrophy, physiologic atrophy, neurogenic atrophy, pathologic atrophy |
| Causes of muscle atrophy | Malnutrition, age, genetics, lack of physical activity, nerve problems, diseases, stroke, sedentary lifestyle, muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, ALS, MS, cancer |
| Symptoms of muscle atrophy | Decrease in muscle mass, weakness, numbness or tingling in limbs, trouble walking or balancing, difficulty swallowing or speaking, loss of stamina, difficulty performing daily activities |
| Treatments for muscle atrophy | Exercise, healthy diet, physical therapy, ultrasound therapy, surgery |
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What You'll Learn
Sedentary lifestyle
Muscle atrophy, or muscle wastage, can be caused by a sedentary lifestyle. This is when a person does not use their muscles enough, leading to a decrease in muscle mass and strength. Sitting for extended periods can negatively impact muscle health, and modern lifestyles often promote increased sitting time, whether for work or leisure.
The human body is designed to move, and muscles contain bundles of fibres that grow and strengthen when exposed to activity and resistance training. When muscles are inactive for too long, they remain in a contracted position, causing them to stiffen and shorten. This results in a constrained range of motion and makes it harder to perform basic functions like bending down or getting up from a chair. Sedentary lifestyles can also lead to a loss of valuable muscle tissue, with adults who sit for long periods losing up to 3.8% of their muscle mass per day.
To counteract the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, it is essential to incorporate movement into your daily routine. Aim for 7,000 to 10,000 steps per day, including dedicated walking sessions or lifestyle movements like pacing while on the phone or taking the stairs. Set reminders to get up and move around every 30 minutes, and incorporate bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, or wall push-ups into your routine. Interval sitting can also help muscles recover; break up seated tasks into chunks of 20 to 30 minutes with 5-minute breaks in between to walk around.
Additionally, regular exercise outside of designated workout sessions is crucial. Yard work, walking meetings during lunch breaks, or knocking out chores are great ways to keep your muscles active throughout the day. Cardio, flexibility exercises, and resistance training can also help prevent muscle atrophy. For those who have to sit for long periods due to work or commuting, be sure to get up and move around at least once every hour to prevent muscles from stagnantly contracting.
While muscle atrophy due to a sedentary lifestyle can be detrimental, the good news is that it can be reversed. By incorporating regular movement, exercise, and a healthy diet, you can rebuild lost muscle mass and improve your overall muscle health.
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Malnutrition
Undernutrition, or a deficiency of nutrients, is the most common form of malnutrition. It can lead to visible wasting of fat and muscle tissue, even if the person appears overweight. This is because the body, when deprived of energy, begins to break down its own tissues, starting with fat stores and then moving on to muscle, skin, hair, and nails. This results in muscle atrophy, or the wasting and thinning of muscle mass, which causes a decrease in muscle strength and size.
A study on the impact of malnutrition on muscle wasting in frail, older hospitalized patients found that malnutrition was significantly associated with acute muscle wasting. During a two-week hospitalization, malnourished patients experienced a decline in mid-thigh muscle cross-sectional area and a loss of handgrip and knee extension strength.
It is important to note that malnutrition can be reversed with proper nutrition and exercise, which can help treat muscle atrophy and improve overall health.
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Genetic disorders
Muscle atrophy, or muscle wastage, can be caused by genetic disorders such as muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of inherited diseases that cause progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscles. There are more than 30 types of MD, and it affects people worldwide, regardless of race. The condition is caused by changes in the genes that make proteins needed to form healthy muscles. These genetic mutations can be inherited or occur spontaneously during embryonic development.
MD causes muscles to become weaker and lose mass over time, and it often starts in childhood, mostly affecting boys. The specific symptoms depend on the type of MD and the muscle groups affected. For example, Duchenne muscular dystrophy may be accompanied by learning, intellectual, or mental health conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, OCD, or anxiety. Other types of MD include Becker muscular dystrophy, which tends to be milder, and Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, which causes stiffness in certain joints and tendons. Some types of MD also affect organs other than muscles, such as the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal system, endocrine glands, spine, eyes, brain, or other organs.
In addition to MD, other neuromuscular disorders can cause muscle wastage. These disorders affect the nerves that control voluntary muscles and the nerves that communicate sensory information to the brain. When these nerve cells become unhealthy or die, communication between the nervous system and muscles breaks down, resulting in muscle atrophy. Neuromuscular disorders can be inherited or caused by spontaneous gene mutations, and they may also be caused by immune system disorders.
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Nerve damage
Neurogenic atrophy can be caused by various conditions, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, spinal cord injuries, and Multiple Sclerosis. The peripheral nerves, which carry motor signals from the brain to the muscles, can be affected by diseases, trauma, or inflammation. This disruption can lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, and uncontrolled muscle movements.
The symptoms of neurogenic atrophy include a decrease in muscle mass, with one limb sometimes appearing smaller than the other. Individuals may also experience numbness, tingling, and weakness in their limbs, as well as difficulty with walking and balancing. In some cases, it may lead to trouble swallowing or speaking.
Neurogenic atrophy is typically more challenging to reverse compared to disuse atrophy because of the physical damage to the nerves. Treatment options for neurogenic atrophy include physical therapy, electrical stimulation therapy, ultrasound therapy, and in severe cases, surgery to correct contractures caused by fibrous muscle tissues. While there are no drug treatments for muscle wasting, exercise and adequate protein intake can help slow down muscle loss.
It is important to consult with healthcare professionals for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, as the specific approach may vary depending on the underlying cause and severity of the condition.
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Ageing
The muscle loss associated with ageing is a result of a decrease in the size and number of muscle fibres. This process of muscle loss typically begins in one's 30s or 40s and accelerates between the ages of 65 and 80. Notably, individuals over the age of 60 are more susceptible to sarcopenia, with rates of the condition ranging from 5% to 13% in this age group. The likelihood of developing sarcopenia further increases with age, with estimates suggesting a range of 11% to 50% in individuals aged 80 and older.
Age-related muscle wastage is characterised by a gradual loss of muscle mass and strength, with muscle weakness being the most common symptom. This weakness can lead to specific difficulties, such as loss of stamina, trouble climbing stairs, and a decrease in walking speed. The progression of sarcopenia may also manifest as poor balance, resulting in an increased risk of falls.
While ageing is the predominant factor in sarcopenia, other risk factors have been identified that may contribute to the condition. Physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet are believed to play a role in the development of age-related muscle loss. Maintaining a sedentary lifestyle or having a job that requires sitting for extended periods can contribute to muscle atrophy. Additionally, certain chronic diseases have been associated with higher rates of sarcopenia.
The effects of sarcopenia can be mitigated to some extent. Exercise and improved nutrition are often recommended as interventions to slow down the progression of the condition and improve muscle strength. Focused ultrasound therapy is a newer treatment option that uses high-frequency sound waves to stimulate muscle contraction and potentially slow muscle loss.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle wastage, or atrophy, is the wasting or thinning of muscle mass. It can be caused by muscle disuse or certain medical conditions.
Muscle wastage symptoms include a decrease in muscle mass, one limb being smaller than the other, weakness, numbness, and tingling in the limbs. It can also cause difficulty in performing everyday activities, such as walking slowly, climbing stairs, and reduced stamina.
Muscle wastage can be caused by a variety of factors, including prolonged inactivity, malnutrition, age, genetics, and certain medical conditions, such as ALS, muscular dystrophy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis.
