Muscle atrophy is a condition in whichmuscles shrink. It is usually visibly noticeable, causing weakness and decreased muscle tone. There are many causes of muscle atrophy, It often occurs with serious medical conditions, especially withcachexia in cancerand HIV/AIDS.The treatments include different strategies, such as nutrition, exercise, or medication. So, what is muscle atrophy, and what can be done to reverse it?Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty ImagesMuscle Atrophy or Muscle WastingMuscle atrophy is the loss or decrease of muscle mass. Synonyms include muscle wasting, muscle loss, muscle catabolism, and muscle withering.There are three main types of muscle atrophy:Physiologic atrophy occurs when muscles aren’t used enough, such as with prolonged illness.Pathologic atrophy is the type that occurs as a result of disease, cancer, severe infections, and malnutrition.Neurogenic atrophy is when there is a disruption of the nerve signals to the muscles.Several of these issues can cause each other and may compound the effects. For example, cancer can cause muscle breakdown due to the disease, and cancer-related fatigue may also lead to a sedentary lifestyle—which causes atrophy to progress further.Disuse Muscle AtrophyWith muscles, there is definitely a principle of “use it or lose it.” If you have been active and exercising, your muscles will get larger and stronger in response. If you stop using certain muscles for too long, they will decrease in size, as well as in strength.Some common reasons for disuse muscle atrophy:A sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular physical activity can cause disuse atrophy and weakness. The atrophy is usually mild to moderate in severity.Muscle atrophy occurs very quickly when a limb is immobilized. If you have ever had your leg in a cast, you probably how fast you lost muscle in that leg.Prolonged immobilization when bedridden due to disease can lead to severe muscle atrophy that affects many muscles.Often, people are encouraged to walk and move around while in the hospital—one of the reasons is to minimize muscle atrophy.A vicious cycle can occur with disuse muscle atrophy. Sometimes pain, such asosteoarthritisorrheumatoid arthritispain, leads to decreased physical activity and muscle atrophy. And weakness due to muscle atrophy makes it difficult to follow the recommended exercises—which exacerbates stiffness and pain.TreatmentThe treatment for this type of muscle atrophy involves using the muscles with targeted exercises.Sometimes, resuming normal physical activity can be enough to rebuild muscle if you’ve only been less active than usual for a short time. For example, after recovering from a bout of the flu, most otherwise healthy people will regain lost weight and rebuild muscle strength after a week or so of regular activity.Neurogenic Muscle AtrophyWhen a nerve that normally stimulates a muscle is damaged, it can no longer trigger muscle contraction that produces muscle activity. Over time, the unstimulated muscles may atrophy. This can occur as a result ofperipheral neuropathy, which is a type of nerve damage, and it can also result from spine disease or conditions that affect the brain—like a stroke.TreatmentTreatment and prevention of neurogenic muscle atrophy involve passive exercises. This means that a therapist, a family member, or a machine will move the muscle to improve blood flow and minimize the breakdown of muscle tissue. In some instances, you might be able to passively move your own muscle if you have strength and control of your other muscles.Neurogenic muscle atrophy can lead to other issues, such as involuntary muscle twitching ormuscle spasticity(extreme stiffness) of the muscle. These complications also require ongoing physical therapy, and sometimes medication.What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?Pathologic AtrophySeveral medical conditions can cause muscle atrophy due to factors like inflammation, malnutrition, and metabolic problems. These factors can all contribute to muscle breakdown.Examples include:CancerAIDSDumping syndromeDermatomyositisPolymyositisLong-term corticosteroid therapyEach of these conditions causes atrophy due to different processes. For example, dumping syndrome causes malnutrition, while dermatomyositis and polymyositis cause inflammatory muscle destruction. Treatment of pathologic muscle atrophy varies, depending on the cause.If you notice that your muscles are getting smaller or weaker, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need a medical evaluation and a treatment plan.Frequently Asked QuestionsMuscle atrophy is a loss of muscle tissue. Other terms for muscle atrophy include:Muscle catabolismMuscle lossMuscle wastingMuscle witheringMuscle atrophy can have a few different causes. In general, muscles that aren’t used can become weaker and smaller. A lack of physical activity is one cause. Nerve damage can also lead to atrophy. In addition, aging, starvation, long-term use of corticosteroids, and many medical conditions can lead to muscle atrophy.Yes, sometimes, you can rebuild muscles that have atrophied. A combination of physical activity, strengthening exercises, and proper nutrition can often help. You may need physical therapy or rehabilitation to regain muscle strength and muscle mass.The Causes, Prevention, and Reversal of Muscle Atrophy
Muscle atrophy is a condition in whichmuscles shrink. It is usually visibly noticeable, causing weakness and decreased muscle tone. There are many causes of muscle atrophy, It often occurs with serious medical conditions, especially withcachexia in cancerand HIV/AIDS.The treatments include different strategies, such as nutrition, exercise, or medication. So, what is muscle atrophy, and what can be done to reverse it?
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / Getty Images
Muscle Atrophy or Muscle Wasting
Muscle atrophy is the loss or decrease of muscle mass. Synonyms include muscle wasting, muscle loss, muscle catabolism, and muscle withering.
There are three main types of muscle atrophy:
Several of these issues can cause each other and may compound the effects. For example, cancer can cause muscle breakdown due to the disease, and cancer-related fatigue may also lead to a sedentary lifestyle—which causes atrophy to progress further.
Disuse Muscle Atrophy
With muscles, there is definitely a principle of “use it or lose it.” If you have been active and exercising, your muscles will get larger and stronger in response. If you stop using certain muscles for too long, they will decrease in size, as well as in strength.
Some common reasons for disuse muscle atrophy:
Often, people are encouraged to walk and move around while in the hospital—one of the reasons is to minimize muscle atrophy.
A vicious cycle can occur with disuse muscle atrophy. Sometimes pain, such asosteoarthritisorrheumatoid arthritispain, leads to decreased physical activity and muscle atrophy. And weakness due to muscle atrophy makes it difficult to follow the recommended exercises—which exacerbates stiffness and pain.
Treatment
The treatment for this type of muscle atrophy involves using the muscles with targeted exercises.
Sometimes, resuming normal physical activity can be enough to rebuild muscle if you’ve only been less active than usual for a short time. For example, after recovering from a bout of the flu, most otherwise healthy people will regain lost weight and rebuild muscle strength after a week or so of regular activity.
Neurogenic Muscle Atrophy
When a nerve that normally stimulates a muscle is damaged, it can no longer trigger muscle contraction that produces muscle activity. Over time, the unstimulated muscles may atrophy. This can occur as a result ofperipheral neuropathy, which is a type of nerve damage, and it can also result from spine disease or conditions that affect the brain—like a stroke.
Treatment and prevention of neurogenic muscle atrophy involve passive exercises. This means that a therapist, a family member, or a machine will move the muscle to improve blood flow and minimize the breakdown of muscle tissue. In some instances, you might be able to passively move your own muscle if you have strength and control of your other muscles.
Neurogenic muscle atrophy can lead to other issues, such as involuntary muscle twitching ormuscle spasticity(extreme stiffness) of the muscle. These complications also require ongoing physical therapy, and sometimes medication.
What Is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?
Pathologic Atrophy
Several medical conditions can cause muscle atrophy due to factors like inflammation, malnutrition, and metabolic problems. These factors can all contribute to muscle breakdown.
Examples include:
Each of these conditions causes atrophy due to different processes. For example, dumping syndrome causes malnutrition, while dermatomyositis and polymyositis cause inflammatory muscle destruction. Treatment of pathologic muscle atrophy varies, depending on the cause.
If you notice that your muscles are getting smaller or weaker, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need a medical evaluation and a treatment plan.
Frequently Asked QuestionsMuscle atrophy is a loss of muscle tissue. Other terms for muscle atrophy include:Muscle catabolismMuscle lossMuscle wastingMuscle witheringMuscle atrophy can have a few different causes. In general, muscles that aren’t used can become weaker and smaller. A lack of physical activity is one cause. Nerve damage can also lead to atrophy. In addition, aging, starvation, long-term use of corticosteroids, and many medical conditions can lead to muscle atrophy.Yes, sometimes, you can rebuild muscles that have atrophied. A combination of physical activity, strengthening exercises, and proper nutrition can often help. You may need physical therapy or rehabilitation to regain muscle strength and muscle mass.
Frequently Asked Questions
Muscle atrophy is a loss of muscle tissue. Other terms for muscle atrophy include:Muscle catabolismMuscle lossMuscle wastingMuscle withering
Muscle atrophy is a loss of muscle tissue. Other terms for muscle atrophy include:
Muscle atrophy can have a few different causes. In general, muscles that aren’t used can become weaker and smaller. A lack of physical activity is one cause. Nerve damage can also lead to atrophy. In addition, aging, starvation, long-term use of corticosteroids, and many medical conditions can lead to muscle atrophy.
Yes, sometimes, you can rebuild muscles that have atrophied. A combination of physical activity, strengthening exercises, and proper nutrition can often help. You may need physical therapy or rehabilitation to regain muscle strength and muscle mass.
The Causes, Prevention, and Reversal of Muscle Atrophy
2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Muscle atrophy.Adams V.Electromyostimulation to fight atrophy and to build muscle: facts and numbers.J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018;9(4):631–634. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12332Additional ReadingMuscle atrophy. MedlinePlus.
2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Muscle atrophy.Adams V.Electromyostimulation to fight atrophy and to build muscle: facts and numbers.J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018;9(4):631–634. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12332Additional ReadingMuscle atrophy. MedlinePlus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Muscle atrophy.Adams V.Electromyostimulation to fight atrophy and to build muscle: facts and numbers.J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018;9(4):631–634. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12332
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Muscle atrophy.
Adams V.Electromyostimulation to fight atrophy and to build muscle: facts and numbers.J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2018;9(4):631–634. doi:10.1002/jcsm.12332
Muscle atrophy. MedlinePlus.
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