What To Know About Muscle Atrophy

TODAY’S HEALTH TOPIC

When you are right up there in age it is good to know how your body is changing and what to do about it. I like to share this Newsletter from Harvard Medical School with you.

Don’t let muscle mass go to waste

Age-related muscle loss, called sarcopenia, is a natural part of getting older. But after an injury, illness, or any prolonged period of inactivity, muscle loss can occur faster, leading to muscle atrophy. The consequences are greater weakness, poor balance, and even frailty.”

“People older than age 65 are especially vulnerable to muscle atrophy,” says Jodi Klein, a physical therapist with Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “It can take longer for the body to recover from dramatic muscle loss, but with the right strategy, older adults can protect themselves from muscle atrophy and rebound easier if it occurs, no matter what their age.”