Understanding Atrophy: Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatments
What is Atrophy?
Atrophy refers to the ‘wasting away’ or decrease in size of a part of the body, usually muscle or tissue. Anyone at any time can experience atrophy and the disorder normally has various underlying causes. Learning more about atrophy can help you to identify if you are experiencing symptoms of atrophy and if you need to seek further evaluation.
Types of Atrophy
There are two main types of atrophy:
- Disuse Atrophy: This occurs when muscles are not used enough and is often seen in individuals with sedentary lifestyles or those immobilized for extended periods (1).
- Neurogenic Atrophy: This type is caused by nerve damage or disease. It is typically more severe and progresses more rapidly than disuse atrophy (2).
Causes of Atrophy
Atrophy can result from several factors, including:
- Disuse: Prolonged inactivity or immobility, such as being bedridden or having a sedentary lifestyle, can lead to muscle atrophy (3).
- Aging: Natural aging processes can often result in muscle loss and atrophy over time (4).
- Malnutrition: Lack of essential nutrients can impair your body’s ability to maintain muscle tissue and lead to atrophy (5).
- Neurological Conditions: Diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and spinal cord injuries can cause nerve damage that leads to atrophy (6).
- Chronic Illnesses: Conditions like cancer, AIDS, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can contribute to muscle wasting (7).
Symptoms of Atrophy
The symptoms of atrophy can vary depending on the cause and severity but commonly include:
- Noticeable reduction in muscle size
- Weakness
- Reduced muscle strength
- Difficulty in performing everyday activities
- Muscle stiffness
- Joint pain
Statistics on Atrophy
- Disuse atrophy is common and it is estimated that around 10-20% of elderly individuals suffer from significant muscle loss due to disuse (9).
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a well-known cause of neurogenic atrophy, affects approximately 30,000 people in the United States at any given time (10).
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is another significant cause, affecting about 1 in 10,000 live births globally (11).
Diagnosis
Diagnosing muscle atrophy involves a detailed patient history, physical examination, and various diagnostic tests to identify the type and cause of atrophy (1, 2).
Testing
Tests for muscle atrophy include:
- Blood Tests: To measure muscle enzymes and inflammatory markers (3).
- Imaging Studies: MRI or CT scans to visualize muscle wasting (4).
- Muscle Biopsy: To examine muscle tissue for pathological changes (5).
- Electromyography (EMG): To assess electrical activity in muscles (6).
Treatment for Atrophy
Treatment depends on the underlying cause of atrophy:
- Physical Therapy: Regular physical therapy can strengthen muscles and improve mobility (12).
- Exercise: Tailored exercise programs, including strength training and aerobic exercises, aid in muscle rebuilding (13).
- Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals supports muscle health (14).
- Medications: For neurogenic atrophy, medications to manage the underlying neurological condition may be prescribed (15).
- Surgical Interventions: In some cases, surgery may be required to repair damaged nerves or tissues (16).
Kane Hall Barry Neurology is committed to providing comprehensive care and support for patients experiencing symptoms of atrophy. Our clinics are able to provide comprehensive testing for muscle atrophy on-site. To find out more about Kane Hall Barry Neurology or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (817) 267-6290 or schedule an appointment online.
References
Jones SW, Hill RJ, Krasney PA, O’Conner B, Peirce N, Greenhaff PL. Disuse atrophy and exercise rehabilitation in humans profoundly affects the expression of genes associated with the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. FASEB J. 2004 Jun;18(9):1025-7. doi: 10.1096/fj.03-1228fje. Epub 2004 Apr 14. PMID: 15084522. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15084522/
McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL. Exercise Physiology: Nutrition, Energy, and Human Performance. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320931917_Exercise_Physiology_Nutrition_Energy_and_Human_Performance
Powers SK, Criswell D, Lawler J, Martin D, Lieu FK, Ji LL, Herb RA. Rigorous exercise training increases superoxide dismutase activity in ventricular myocardium. Am J Physiol. 1993 Dec;265(6 Pt 2). doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1993.265.6.H2094. PMID: 8285249. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8285249/
Doherty TJ. Invited review: Aging and sarcopenia. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2003 Oct;95(4):1717-27. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00347.2003. PMID: 12970377. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12970377/
Argilés JM, Campos N, Lopez-Pedrosa JM, Rueda R, Rodriguez-Mañas L. Skeletal Muscle Regulates Metabolism via Interorgan Crosstalk: Roles in Health and Disease. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2016 Sep 1;17(9):789-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2016.04.019. Epub 2016 Jun 17. PMID: 27324808. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27324808/
Brown RH, Al-Chalabi A. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. N Engl J Med. 2017 Jul 13;377(2):162-172. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1603471. PMID: 28700839. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28700839/
Tisdale MJ. Mechanisms of cancer cachexia. Physiol Rev. 2009 Apr;89(2):381-410. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00016.2008. PMID: 19342610. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19342610/
Young A, Stokes M, Crowe M. The size and strength of the quadriceps muscles of old and young men. Clin Physiol. 1985 Apr;5(2):145-54. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-097x.1985.tb00590.x. PMID: 3888498. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3888498/
Newman AB, Kupelian V, Visser M, Simonsick EM, Goodpaster BH, Kritchevsky SB, Tylavsky FA, Rubin SM, Harris TB. Strength, but not muscle mass, is associated with mortality in the health, aging and body composition study cohort. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006 Jan;61(1):72-7. doi: 10.1093/gerona/61.1.72. PMID: 16456196. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16456196/
Warburton DE, Nicol CW, Bredin SS. Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence. CMAJ. 2006 Mar 14;174(6):801-9. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.051351. PMID: 16534088; PMCID: PMC1402378. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1402378/
Fiatarone MA, Marks EC, Ryan ND, Meredith CN, Lipsitz LA, Evans WJ. High-intensity strength training in nonagenarians. Effects on skeletal muscle. JAMA. 1990 Jun 13;263(22):3029-34. PMID: 2342214. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2342214/
ALS Association. Facts You Should Know. Available from: ALS Association.
Cure SMA. Overview. Available from: https://www.curesma.org/living-with-sma/
Reviewed for accuracy by: Sharique Ansari, MD, MPH
Additional Resources
