Loss of muscle tissue is mainly occurred due to the lack of physical movement and medically termed as Muscle Atrophy. Most of the time, muscle deterioration associated with disuse atrophy and neurogenic atrophy. Apart from that, loss of muscle is also promoted by some medical complications like arthritis, stroke and muscular dystrophy. It is very difficult to walk or complete daily activities in case of muscle deterioration occurred due to disease or injury. After the identification of root causes associated with the atrophy helps doctor to diagnose or reduce the effects of muscle wasting.
Causes of Muscle Atrophy
Aging and diseases
It is believed that loss of muscle is linked with the aging, in which people reduce the physical activity and switch to completely sedentary lifestyle. In that case, muscle lose tone and risk of muscle atrophy increased. In addition, extreme condition likes paralysis in which patient loss the ability to move also lead to the muscle loss or muscle atrophy. These conditions are classified and disuse atrophy, which occurred due to the lack movement of body parts. In case of disuse atrophy, physician recommended physical therapy and healthy diet to reverse this condition.
Neurogenic Disease
The main function of nerves to pass the signal from one cell to other, but nerves also control the muscles. There are various diseases that affect the function of nerves which leads to neurogenic atrophy. It is an acute condition which occurred due to the injury of nerve associated with muscle. Here are nerve diseases that lead to Atrophy such as ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), polio and Guillain-Barre syndrome. These health complications prevent the communication between nerves and muscles. Lack signal of nerves affect the function of muscles and increased the risk of muscle wasting.
Muscular Dystrophy
Remember, muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle weakening related disorders. These diseases can be genetic and make muscle loss condition progressively worse. It is cleared that muscular dystrophy related diseases are incurable and leads to the death of muscle cell and tissue after a long period of inactivity. There is no treatment for these conditions and aggressive physical activities may help you get some relief.
Arthritis
There is no doubt that bone related disorders increase the risk of muscle loss or muscle atrophy. As per research result, conditions like rheumatoid and osteoarthritis promoted the muscular wasting in patients. These conditions restrict the movement of joints due to inflammation and stiffness. Pain in the joints caused by bone related disorders reduce the physical activities which lead to the muscle loss. It is necessary to consult with a professional physician for the better treatment of arthritis and further prevent the risk of Atrophy. Including anti-inflammatory drugs, patient should participate in the physical activities to reduce the arthritis pain.
Other causes
In addition, there are some other conditions that linked with muscle atrophy such as alcohol-associated myopathy, malnutrition, motor neuropathy, spinal cord injury, stroke, immobilization etc.
Signs of Muscle Loss
It is necessary to never ignore the sign and symptoms of muscle atrophy like weakness in one limb, one arm weaker than other and physical inactivity.
If you believe that you are suffering with the muscle wasting then immediately approach a professional physician. Long term inactiveness leads to the muscle waste and often takes some time to reverse it.
Treatment of Muscle Atrophy
Share your previous medical history with your doctor for the better diagnosis of muscle wasting. If you have experience of any old or new injury, then immediately tell him/her. Here are the lists of some test that will help in the treatment of muscle loss.
Blood test
X-rays
MRI
CT scan
EMG
Nerve conduction studies
Nerve biopsy
After these test results, you physician will suggest you better way to reverse muscle atrophy. Here are some common treatments of muscle wasting such as exercise, physical therapy, surgery, dietary changes and ultrasound therapy. Remember, ignorance of the symptoms of muscle loss can leads to the permanent damage of muscles cells and tissues, which are not reversible.
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