Do your muscles feel like they're wasting away? Let's learn more about Muscle Atrophy!

Have you ever felt like your arms or legs have lost some of their muscle mass, or that you no longer have the strength you used to have? You may even feel like one arm is smaller than the other. One of the causes of these symptoms is muscle wasting, a condition called muscle atrophy . Today, we'll talk about this in a simple way that you can understand.

What is this muscle atrophy?

Simply put, Muscle Atrophy is the thinning or wasting away of your muscle tissue. This results in a loss of both the mass and strength of your muscles. Even when you look at them from the outside, they may appear shrunken and atrophied. There can be many reasons for this. It can be caused by malnutrition, aging, genetics, lack of physical activity, or even certain diseases .

There are two main types of muscle atrophy:

1. Disuse Atrophy (or Physiologic Atrophy): This happens when you don't use your muscles properly. Think of it like something we don't use, it just wears out over time.

2. Neurogenic Atrophy: This occurs due to a problem with the nervous system, or a disease related to the nerves.

What are the symptoms if there is (Muscle Atrophy)?

If you have this condition, the symptoms may vary slightly depending on the cause. However, the main symptom is a decrease in muscle mass. That is, the muscles shrink.

You can also see things like this:

• One arm or leg appears smaller than the other.
• Feeling weakness in one arm or leg.
• A tingling or prickling sensation in the hands and feet.
• Difficulty walking and balancing.
• Difficulty swallowing and speaking (this can happen if the muscles in the face or throat are affected)
• Weakening of facial muscles.
• Sometimes, you may also notice gradual memory loss (this may be related to a symptom of another underlying disease).

How does this condition (Muscle Atrophy) feel?

Now you may be wondering how this feels in your body. If the muscles in your arms and legs are atrophied, you may feel numb, tingling, or weak . If the muscles in your face or throat are affected, your facial muscles may feel weak, and you may have difficulty speaking or swallowing.

What causes this? Why is this happening?

The causes of muscle atrophy vary depending on the type of atrophy you have. Let's take a look at the causes of each type.

1. Disuse Atrophy:

This happens because we don't use our muscles enough. Think about it, what happens if you stay in bed for days on end? Your arms and legs feel a little numb, don't they? That's how it is. When we stop using our muscles, our body thinks, 'Oh, this is useless now, why waste energy maintaining these?' Then the body starts breaking down those muscles little by little. That's when they decrease in size and strength.

This `Disuse Atrophy` can affect you in the following situations:

• If you live a sedentary lifestyle , meaning you spend most of your day sitting down and not moving around.
• If you are malnourished . This means that your body is not getting the nutrients it needs.
• If you don't exercise enough.
• If you have a desk job , imagine how little exercise your leg muscles get when you sit in a chair all day.
• If you have been prescribed bed rest (for example, after an operation or due to an illness).
• If you have a genetic disease , for example , Muscular Dystrophy or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease .
• If you can't move your limbs , it could be due to a stroke or another condition like dermatomyositis .
• It could also be due to muscle wasting (`Sarcopenia`) that occurs with aging . As we age, we naturally lose some muscle mass, that's what this is.

2. Neurogenic Atrophy:

This type of atrophy occurs when there is damage to the nerves that connect to your muscles, or if there is a disease related to those nerves. Think about it, our muscles work because of the messages that come from the nerves. When those nerves are damaged, the signals that the muscles need don't go properly. Then the muscles can't contract. If the muscles don't contract, the body thinks, 'These are useless again.' Then the muscles start to break down, just like before, they become smaller and weaker.

Some of the diseases and conditions that affect these nerves are:

• A disease called (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ALS) .
• A condition called Guillain-Barre syndrome .
• (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) (This is often caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist).
• (Polio) Or polio.
• Spinal cord injury.
• The disease called Multiple Sclerosis (MS) .

How long does it take for measles to go away?

This is something that varies from person to person. This time will vary depending on your age, how physically fit you are, and what caused the atrophy.

Typically, disuse atrophy can start after two to three weeks of not using your muscles. Imagine if you broke your leg, wouldn't that leg get a little thinner after a few days in a cast? That's how it is.

Neurogenic atrophy can progress even faster, depending on your health condition.

How does a doctor diagnose this (Muscle Atrophy)?

If you have these symptoms, a doctor will first do a physical exam, ask about your symptoms, and may also look at your arms and legs and measure the size of your muscles.

In addition, the doctor may also perform tests such as these to learn more:

• Blood tests.
• Muscle or nerve biopsy ( a small piece of tissue is taken and examined).
• Electromyography (EMG) test (this measures the electrical activity of the muscles).
• Nerve conduction studies ( this looks at the speed at which signals travel through nerves).
• X-rays.
• CT scan (`Computed Tomography - CT scan`).
• MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging - MRI scan).

Can this muscle wasting be reversed?

This is a problem for many people.

Disuse atrophy can sometimes be reversed with exercise and a healthy diet. Your doctor may suggest that you start doing things like swimming. Exercising in water is easier because there is less weight on the muscles.

However, neurogenic atrophy is usually difficult to completely reverse. This is because the damage to the nerves is often permanent.

What is the treatment for this?

Treatment for muscle atrophy depends on the type.

For Disuse Atrophy:

• Regular exercise and a nutritious diet are the most important things.
• Your doctor may recommend physical therapy or a special exercise plan.
• Even if you can't move certain joints, there are exercises you can do even with a splint or brace .
• Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help you develop a healthy eating plan. They may also recommend nutritional supplements .

For Neurogenic Atrophy:

• Sometimes a special physical therapy technique called `Electrical stimulation` is used. In this, your physical therapist places `electrodes` on your skin, where your muscles are. These electrodes send small electrical impulses to your nerves and muscles. This attempts to artificially make your muscles exercise, or contract. This can help maintain muscle mass and strength.
• The physical therapist may also recommend ultrasound therapy, which uses sound waves to promote muscle healing.
• If your muscles are atrophying and causing contracture (meaning the muscles become stiff and unable to stretch), your doctor may be able to perform surgery to correct it.

How long does it take to recover from this condition?

The time it takes to rebuild muscle after muscle atrophy depends on what type of atrophy you had and how severe it was.

Disuse atrophy is usually reversible, but it doesn't happen overnight. You can recover from it by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet . You'll start to feel better in a few months, but it may take longer to fully regain your strength.

The most important thing is to follow the doctor's instructions and to engage in treatment with enthusiasm and dedication. Even if it's a little difficult, don't give up!

What is the difference between muscle atrophy and muscle hypertrophy?

These two are completely opposites.

• Muscle atrophy is the loss of muscle mass.
• Muscle hypertrophy is an increase in muscle mass. This is when your muscle fibers become larger, or thicker. Muscle hypertrophy occurs when the volume of muscle cells increases. You can experience this through exercise methods such as strength training or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) .

Finally, things to remember (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so let's remind you of a few things we've talked about that we think are important to you.

• If you feel like parts of your body are small or weak , definitely see a doctor.
• It's normal to feel sad when you receive a diagnosis of Muscular Atrophy. But remember, disuse atrophy, especially when it comes to muscle loss, can be reversed.
• Your doctor will give you a treatment plan that is right for you. The most important thing is to follow that plan exactly.
• Sometimes it can feel like a chore to exercise and diet. But don't skip it. It's essential to rebuild your muscle mass and strength.

So, take care of your body, and if you notice any changes, seek medical advice immediately. Staying healthy is the most important thing!

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