Muscle atrophy is often quite serious and happens when the muscles are allowed to waste away. Of course, the severity depends on the cause and how long it’s allowed to progress. The worse the atrophy becomes, the higher your risk of complications and the harder it becomes to reverse the symptoms.

To combat muscle wasting, your doctor determines the cause and treats the issue if possible. Physical therapy is often recommended and may include safe exercises and electrical stimulation to rebuild those thinning muscles. Ultrasound therapy heals damaged tissue, while dietary education and supplements provide proper nutritional support. Severe damage may require surgery, so learning to prevent the condition is crucial to avoid any problems.

Elderly woman doing exercise to reverse muscle atrophy.

Is Muscle Atrophy Serious?

It can be when it is impossible to fix it. You may have noticed that after skipping a few days of exercise, you don’t feel as strong as usual. Such weakness is the beginning of muscle wasting since they aren’t getting the workout they’re used to. Resuming your regular physical activity may counter the issue.

Shrinking body

Unfortunately, not all types of muscle atrophy are as easy to fix. For some people, muscle atrophy is much more severe, with varying symptoms and complications. You may experience weakness, tingling, or numbness in your limbs. An arm or leg may also become smaller than its counterpart.

Shrinking leg muscles often affect your balance, making walking difficult and increasing your fall risk. If the condition affects facial or throat muscles, the weakness could cause speaking issues. You may also have more difficulty swallowing and could experience choking when eating or drinking.

Chest and shoulders are affected too. Muscle atrophy can affect the deltoids, pectorals, and other upper body muscles, leading to a decrease in size and strength. Also, reduced muscle mass in the biceps, triceps, and forearm muscles can lead to shrinking and weakened arms.

Back and abdomen

The muscles along the spine, including the latissimus dorsi and the erector spinae, can shrink, leading to back weakness and potential postural issues.

Core muscles, including the abdominals and obliques, can also atrophy, affecting posture and stability.

Brain affected

Even the brain is affected by muscle atrophy. The central nervous system connects the brain to the muscles. Altered brain or CNS functions may compromise muscle movement. But recent studies have shown the opposite is also true. Experts believe physical inactivity and wasting muscles are linked to cognitive decline, memory loss, and dementia.

Common and possible causes

Muscle atrophy can be caused by various factors, often related to physical inactivity, disease, or underlying medical conditions.

Physical inactivity

Physiologic atrophy occurs when you don’t use your muscles as often as you should. The causes include a lack of exercise, sitting too often, or medical issues preventing movement.

Chronic conditions

Pathologic atrophy mainly results from issues out of your control, including various medical conditions or chronic diseases. For instance, sarcopenia is a common sign of aging in seniors, causing reduced muscle mass.

Starvation

Starvation is another issue resulting in muscle atrophy. Starvation causes atrophy due to the body’s need to find alternative sources of energy when there is a lack of adequate nutrition. Reversing the effects of this condition caused by starvation requires adequate nutrition, particularly sufficient protein intake, and physical rehabilitation to rebuild muscle mass and strength.

Nerve damage

Neurogenic atrophy affects those who’ve sustained damage to the nerves connecting to the muscles. It could result from an injury, disease, or medical condition, often with a rapid onset.

Can you reverse it?

Muscle atrophy may be reversible, though it often depends on the cause. Reversing the effects of muscle atrophy caused by starvation requires adequate nutrition, particularly sufficient protein intake, and physical rehabilitation to rebuild muscle mass and strength.

When wasted muscles result from physical inactivity, exercise could rebuild what you’ve lost. Your doctor may recommend specialized programs or routines, including physical therapy and nutritional plans, to ensure a safe recovery.

Muscle atrophy caused by some neurological conditions may cause numerous issues. Though the conditions are often incurable, neurological rehab often reduces the symptoms. Trained therapists and experts design programs to improve your physical self, as well as your other functions. Stress management and relaxing exercises, yoga and meditation can be extremely useful to slow the progression of this condition.

In some cases, hormone replacement therapy may be prescribed to help rebuild muscle mass.

Muscle atrophy or sarcopenia predominantly impacts individuals aged 60 and above, with its prevalence rising with advancing age. The condition affects men and women equally. Research on the ethnic distribution of sarcopenia is inconclusive. Additionally, the incidence of sarcopenia is higher among those with chronic illnesses.

Resources:

  1. Cleveland Clinic, Muscle Atrophy https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22310-muscle-atrophy
  2. NCBI, October 27, 2022, Does the regulation of skeletal muscle influence cognitive function? A scoping review of pre-clinical evidence https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9619139/
  3. Cleveland Clinic, Sarcopenia https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23167-sarcopenia
  4. NCBI, July 4, 2023, Sarcopenia https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560813/#:~:text=Sarcopenia%20is%20a%20musculoskeletal%20disease,system%20or%20impair%20physical%20activity
  5. Harvard Health Publishing, April 10, 2023, Don’t let muscle mass go to waste https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/dont-let-muscle-mass-go-to-waste
  6. Johns Hopkins Medicine, Neurological Rehabilitation https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/neurological-rehabilitation
This content comprises informative and educational resources only and can not be considered as a substitute for professional health or medical guidance. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. If you have any inquiries or apprehensions about your medical condition or health goals, talk with a licensed physician or healthcare provider.