Logan Steele
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle tissue and mass. It is caused by a lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, ageing, genetic disorders, nerve damage, or underlying health conditions. The three types of muscle atrophy are physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic. Physiologic atrophy is caused by insufficient muscle use and can be reversed with exercise. Pathologic atrophy is caused by malnutrition and occurs with ageing, and neurogenic atrophy is caused by nerve damage that affects muscle contractions. Symptoms of muscle atrophy include reduced muscle mass, weakness, and numbness in the affected limbs.
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What You'll Learn
Types of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle tissue and mass. It is characterised by weakening, shrinking, and decreasing muscle mass and fibre cross-sectional area. There are three types of atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic.
Physiologic atrophy, or disuse atrophy, occurs when muscles are not used enough, for example, due to a sedentary lifestyle, old age, illness, or injury. This type of atrophy is usually reversible with exercise and a healthy diet. The more active people are, the more they preserve their muscle mass.
Pathologic atrophy is caused by malnutrition and occurs with aging. It is also associated with disease, cancer, severe infections, and metabolic problems. Pathologic atrophy is recoverable through exercise.
Neurogenic atrophy occurs as a result of an injury or disease affecting the nerves that connect to the muscles. When these nerves are damaged, they cannot trigger the muscle contractions needed to stimulate muscle activity, leading to muscle wasting. This type of atrophy typically cannot be reversed because of the physical damage that has been done to the nerves. However, it can be treated with a special kind of physical therapy called electrical stimulation.
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Causes of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle tissue and mass. There are three types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic.
Physiologic atrophy is caused by insufficient muscle use or movement. This type of atrophy can often be reversed with exercise and better nutrition. People with seated jobs, health problems that limit movement, or decreased activity levels are most at risk.
Pathologic atrophy is caused by malnutrition and is associated with ageing, starvation, and diseases such as Cushing's disease, which is caused by taking too many corticosteroids or having overactive adrenal glands.
Neurogenic atrophy is the most severe type of muscle atrophy. It is caused by injury to or disease of the nerve that controls the muscle. This type of atrophy can occur suddenly and tends to be irreversible. Examples of diseases affecting the nerves that control muscles include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Other causes of muscle atrophy include immobilisation or disuse after sports injuries, chronic inflammatory diseases, neuromuscular diseases, cancer, and acute critical illness. Prolonged bed rest, even in the absence of disease, can also lead to muscle atrophy.
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Symptoms of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle tissue and mass. It is characterised by muscle weakening, shrinking, and decreasing muscle mass and fibre cross-sectional area.
The symptoms of muscle atrophy vary depending on the cause and severity of the muscle loss. The most evident symptom of muscle atrophy is strength loss. Other symptoms include:
- Reduced muscle mass
- One arm or leg noticeably smaller than the others
- Loss of stamina
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Walking slowly
- Trouble climbing stairs
- Poor balance and falls
- Easy fatigue
- Decreased exercise capability
- Lower quality of life
Muscle atrophy can occur as a result of several factors, including inactivity, malnutrition, and ageing. Inactivity is the primary cause of muscle atrophy. If a person does not use a particular muscle, the body eventually breaks it down to conserve energy. Malnutrition can also cause muscle atrophy by impairing the body's ability to absorb nutrients. Ageing is another factor that contributes to muscle atrophy, as the body produces fewer proteins that promote muscle growth, leading to a condition called sarcopenia.
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Diagnosis of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle mass or tissue. It is usually caused by a lack of physical activity, but it can also be caused by neurogenic conditions, nerve damage, or injury. The symptoms of muscle atrophy include a decrease in muscle mass, limbs appearing smaller than the other, and numbness, weakness, and tingling in the limbs.
There are several tests that may be performed to diagnose muscle atrophy and determine the underlying cause. These include:
- Blood tests
- CT scans
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve conduction studies
- MRI scans
- Muscle or nerve biopsy
- X-rays
- Diagnostic muscle ultrasound
In the case of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neuromuscular disease, the diagnosis may include simple tests to distinguish it from similar conditions, such as muscular dystrophy. Doctors may also order a blood test for an enzyme called creatine kinase (CK), which leaks out of deteriorating muscles. In rare cases, a muscle biopsy may be required, where a small sample of muscle tissue is taken, usually from the thigh, and examined under a microscope.
Sarcopenia, a type of muscle atrophy that affects older people, may be diagnosed through a physical exam and a questionnaire based on self-reported symptoms, called the SARC-F. A SARC-F score of 4 or more warrants further testing, such as handgrip strength tests, to identify overall muscle strength.
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Treatment of muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle tissue and mass. It can be caused by disuse of muscles, neurogenic conditions, malnutrition, age, genetics, or certain medical conditions. There are three types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic.
The treatment for muscle atrophy depends on its type and cause. Physiologic atrophy, caused by not using muscles enough, can often be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. Working out in water, or wearing a splint or brace, can reduce the muscle workload during recovery. Nutritional supplements may also be recommended.
Neurogenic atrophy, caused by nerve problems or diseases, is generally irreversible because of the physical damage to the nerves. However, a special kind of physical therapy called electrical stimulation may be used to treat this type of atrophy.
There are a variety of potential treatments for skeletal muscle atrophy, including drug treatment, gene therapy, stem cell and exosome therapy, cytokine therapy, physical therapy, nutrition support, and other therapies. Exercise is widely acknowledged as the most effective therapy for skeletal muscle atrophy, but it is not applicable to all patients.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle atrophy is the thinning or loss of muscle tissue and mass. It is caused by a lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, ageing, genetic disorders, nerve damage, or underlying health conditions.
The most obvious sign of muscle atrophy is reduced muscle mass. Other symptoms include weakness, numbness, or tingling in the limbs, trouble balancing or walking, and difficulty swallowing or speaking.
A doctor will perform a physical examination and ask about your symptoms. They will also measure your muscle mass and may order additional tests, such as blood tests, muscle or nerve biopsies, and imaging scans.
Yes, muscle atrophy can often be treated through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and physical therapy. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct underlying conditions contributing to muscle atrophy.
There are three main types of muscle atrophy: physiologic, pathologic, and neurogenic. Physiologic atrophy is caused by a lack of physical activity and can be reversed through exercise. Pathologic atrophy is caused by malnutrition and ageing, while neurogenic atrophy is the result of nerve damage or disease.
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