Muscle Atrophy - Why Does Muscle Lose Mass? - HTI CENTERS

What is muscle atrophy?

Muscle atrophy is the wasting, wasting away, or loss of muscle mass. It is usually caused by a neurogenic condition or by disuse of the muscle. Exercise and a healthy diet are recommended to relieve symptoms.

The first and most characteristic sign of muscle atrophy is a decrease in muscle mass, although other symptoms may also be expected, including:

• One limb is much smaller than the other;

• Weakness in the limb;

• Numbness or tingling in the limb;

• Difficulty balancing or walking;

• Difficulty speaking or swallowing;

• Gradual memory loss.

If the muscles are atrophied in the face or throat, you will notice a weakening of the facial muscles.

Physiological atrophy

Physiological atrophy occurs when you don't use your muscles - because of this, the body begins to break down the muscle, therefore, the mass decreases in size and loses strength/density.

Causes of physiological atrophy include:

• Inactive lifestyle;

• Not exercising;

• Spending most of the day sitting;

• Nutritional deficiency;

• A history of a genetic disorder such as muscular dystrophy;

• You can't move your limbs due to a stroke or other pathology;

• Age-related atrophy.

Neurogenic atrophy

Neurogenic atrophy is caused by trauma that damages the nerves that connect the muscles.

The following conditions cause nerve damage:

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;

• Guillain-Barré syndrome;

• Multiple sclerosis;

• Carpal tunnel syndrome;

• Polio;

• Spinal cord injury.

Source:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22310-muscle-atrophy