Muscle atrophy
Alternative names:
atrophy of the muscles; muscle wasting; wasting
Definition:
The wasting or loss of muscle tissue resulting from disease or lack of use.
Considerations:
The majority of muscle atrophy in the general population results from disuse. People with sedentary jobs and senior citizens with decreased activity can loose 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.
Even minor muscle atrophy usually results in some loss of mobility or power.
Common causes:
Note: There may be other causes of muscle atrophy. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for muscle atrophy, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.
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