Loss of muscle bulk and strength is calledatrophy. In some ways, atrophy is the opposite of building up muscles. Good nutrition combined with physical exercise can condition muscles, allowing them to grow, bulk up and become stronger. In contrast, atrophy may result from frailty and physical inactivity of muscles.
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Causes
There are several causes of muscle atrophy.
Prevention
If you or your loved one has a neurological condition that causes physical weakness, there are ways to prevent atrophy before it happens.
In addition to preventing atrophy, these activities can help you in several other ways. They help prevent bedsores that result from prolonged pressure on one part of the body. They can reduce the chances of developing blood clots in the arms or legs due to lack of movement (although passive movement has been somewhat controversial as a method to prevent blood clots).And they may minimize some of the nerve damage andmuscle stiffnessthat usually occur after long periods of inactivity.
Reversing Atrophy
Physiologic atrophy is a condition that can be reversed. Atrophy is a physical process that occurs gradually. The rebuilding of muscles takes time, as well.
The most effective methods for reversing atrophy are the same as those used to prevent atrophy—staying active, physical therapy, passive movements, and maintaining adequate nutrition.
Once you feel ready to become active again, the muscle weakness of atrophy combined with the weakness of your illness can be a challenging hurdle. Keeping your expectations reasonable and planning on making gradual improvement can help keep you from getting discouraged.Rehabilitationis an important part of recovery, and you should be sure to take advantage of the resources available to you.
A Word From Verywell
Many people living with neurological illness become depressed when they observe their own skinny bodies that appear weak and malnourished. Families often become very concerned about the appearance of a loved one’s thin muscles. But it is important to remember that physiologic atrophy can be reversed.
It may be hard to stay motivated when it comes to preventing or reversing muscle atrophy. Mild or moderate activities, such as walking a few steps with assistance or even bathing, may seem exhausting, but these activities are an important part of regaining strength and rebuilding muscle.
Frequently Asked QuestionsYes. Muscle atrophy and muscle wasting are two different terms used to describe a loss of muscle mass and a shortening of muscle fibers. Muscle wasting or atrophy is a slow process that can occur from prolonged illness, malnutrition, or neurological disease.In most cases, yes, muscle atrophy can be reversed with proper nutrition and exercise. Atrophy related to neurological diseases, such as a stroke, will require physical therapy to rebuild muscles.It can take a while to reverse muscle atrophy. Muscle wasting is a slow process and it can take just as long—or even longer—to regain lost muscle. How long it takes to will depend on the amount of atrophy that occurred and your physical condition beforehand.It will take at least two weeks of physical therapy before you start to feel a difference in your muscles. It can take several months of physical therapy for muscle size and strength to be fully restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Muscle atrophy and muscle wasting are two different terms used to describe a loss of muscle mass and a shortening of muscle fibers. Muscle wasting or atrophy is a slow process that can occur from prolonged illness, malnutrition, or neurological disease.
In most cases, yes, muscle atrophy can be reversed with proper nutrition and exercise. Atrophy related to neurological diseases, such as a stroke, will require physical therapy to rebuild muscles.
It can take a while to reverse muscle atrophy. Muscle wasting is a slow process and it can take just as long—or even longer—to regain lost muscle. How long it takes to will depend on the amount of atrophy that occurred and your physical condition beforehand.It will take at least two weeks of physical therapy before you start to feel a difference in your muscles. It can take several months of physical therapy for muscle size and strength to be fully restored.
It can take a while to reverse muscle atrophy. Muscle wasting is a slow process and it can take just as long—or even longer—to regain lost muscle. How long it takes to will depend on the amount of atrophy that occurred and your physical condition beforehand.
It will take at least two weeks of physical therapy before you start to feel a difference in your muscles. It can take several months of physical therapy for muscle size and strength to be fully restored.
6 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.
MedlinePlus.Muscle atrophy.
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Hosseini ZS, Peyrovi H, Gohari M.The effect of early passive range of motion exercise on motor function of people with stroke: A randomized controlled trial.J Caring Sci. 2019;8(1):39–44. doi:10.15171/jcs.2019.006
He ML, Xiao ZM, Lei M, Li TS, Wu H, Liao J.Continuous passive motion for preventing venous thromboembolism after total knee arthroplasty.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;1:CD008207. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008207.pub2
John Hopkins Medicine.Neurological rehabilitation.
Hesam-shariati N, Trinh T, Thompson-Butel AG, Shiner CT, Mcnulty PA.A longitudinal electromyography study of complex movements in poststroke therapy. 1: Heterogeneous changes despite consistent improvements in clinical assessments.Front Neurol. 2017;8:340. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00340.
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