Muscle Atrophy: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

What Causes It?

The common causes that lead to muscle atrophy are —

• Sedentary lifestyle for a long period

• Age

• Genetic Factors

• Myopathy (muscle weakness) because of drinking a lot of alcohol for a long time

• Burn injuries

• Injuries related to bones (broken/brittle bones, rotator cuff injuries, etc.)

• Injuries to the spinal cord and/or peripheral nervous system

• Severe deficiency of nutrients (to the extent of being malnourished)

• Strokes and related issues

• Excessive use of anti-inflammatory medicines like corticosteroids

• Existing medical conditions such as:

◦ ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which damages the nerve cells)

◦ Dermatomyositis (condition causing skin rashes and weakness in the muscles)

◦ Neuropathy (leading to numbness)

◦ Osteoarthritis (leading to bone degeneration and reducing mobility in the joints)

◦ Polymyositis (leading to inflammation)

◦ Guillain-Barre Syndrome (leading to inflammation and weakness in the nerves and muscles)

◦ Muscular Dystrophy (a genetic condition causing muscle weakness)

◦ Rheumatoid Arthritis (chronic inflammation affecting the joints)

◦ Multiple Sclerosis (causing the nerve protection membranes to tear off)

◦ Polio (muscle tissue damage, causing paralysis)

◦ Spinal Muscular Atrophy (a genetic condition causing the muscles in the limbs to get weak and wasted)

Signs to look For

The noticeable symptoms of this condition are —

• One arm or leg appears smaller than the other

• Extreme weakness or inability to move one arm or leg

• Feeling of numbness in your limbs

• Weakening of facial muscles

• Having trouble swallowing or speaking

• Irregular body balance, especially when walking

If you observe these muscle atrophy symptoms, talk to your doctor immediately. Getting treatment on time can help reverse this condition in a few cases and help you regain mobility in your arms and legs.

How Is It Diagnosed?

You should visit your doctor immediately when you experience some of the above symptoms or already have one of the medical conditions mentioned in the earlier sections. Your doctor may guide you with the appropriate treatment once he/she diagnoses the condition accurately.

Doctors use the following diagnosis methods to confirm if you have muscular atrophy —

• Having a detailed discussion with you about your genetic conditions, medical history, current medications, OTC medicines taken for weakness and other supplements that you consume

• Understanding all your symptoms in detail

• Asking you to undergo certain diagnostic tests to rule out the possibility of other ailments so that proper treatment can be given for muscular atrophy; these tests include:

◦ Blood Tests

◦ X-Ray

◦ MRI

◦ CT-Scan

◦ Biopsy (of the nerve or muscle, based on your symptoms)

◦ Nerve Conduction Analysis

◦ Electromyography

Your treatment will be based on the results of these diagnostic tests.

Muscle Atrophy Treatment

The common muscular atrophy treatment methods include the following —

• Physical exercises to improve the mobility of your limbs

• Physical therapy to guide you on the importance and tips to exercise the right way

• Ultrasound therapy makes use of sound waves to help in your recovery process.

• If your muscular atrophy condition is too severe, surgeries will help bring back the mobility in your inactive limbs

• Changes in diet if your condition is due to malnutrition; recommendations may contain nutrient-rich foods and supplements for boosting your overall health.