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Muscle atrophy
Definition:
The wasting or loss of muscle tissue resulting from disease or lack of use.

Alternative Names:
Muscle wasting; Wasting; Atrophy of the muscles

Considerations:
The majority of muscle atrophy in the general population results from disuse. People with sedentary jobs and senior citizens with decreased activity can lose muscle tone and develop significant atrophy. This type of atrophy is reversible with vigorous exercise. Bed-ridden people can undergo significant muscle wasting. Astronauts, free of the gravitational pull of Earth, can develop decreased muscle tone and loss of calcium from their bones following just a few days of weightlessness.

Muscle atrophy resulting from disease rather than disuse is generally one of two types, that resulting from damage to the nerves that supply the muscles, and disease of the muscle itself. Examples of diseases affecting the nerves that control muscles would be poliomyelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Examples of diseases affecting primarily the muscles would include muscular dystrophy, myotonia congenita, and myotonic dystrophy as well as other congenital, inflammatory or metabolic myopathies.

Even minor muscle atrophy usually results in some loss of mobility or power.
Common Causes:
Home Care:
Application of moist heat is recommended along with whirlpool baths and resistive exercises.

Unless prohibited by the doctor, active exercises are recommended where a full range-of-motion is achieved. Exercises using braces or splints are recommended for those who cannot actively move one or more joints.
Call your health care provider if:
  • there is any unexplained, prolonged muscle atrophy.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting muscle atrophy in detail may include:
  • time pattern
    • When did it begin?
    • Is it getting worse?
  • location
  • other
    • What other symptoms are also present?
The extent of atrophy will be determined by observation and limb circumference measurements.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to muscle atrophy to your personal medical record.
Review Date: 11/9/2001
Reviewed By: Galit Kleiner-Fisman MD, FRCPC, Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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