Decreased muscle mass

What is decreased muscle mass?

Decreased muscle mass, known medically as sarcopenia, is a common condition characterized by loss of skeletal muscle tissue, strength, and function that can occur due to aging, lifestyle factors, or disease. This progressive loss of muscle mass can negatively impact health and quality of life.

Some key points about decreased muscle mass:

• It begins naturally around age 30 and accelerates after age 60


• Lack of exercise, poor nutrition, hormonal changes, and chronic diseases contribute


• Associated with frailty, falls, fractures, mobility issues, and loss of independence


• Can increase risk of mortality if muscle mass loss becomes significant

Symptoms of Decreased Muscle Mass

Common symptoms associated with sarcopenia to be aware of include:

• Feeling physically weaker


• Fatigue after light activity


• Difficulty climbing stairs or getting up from chairs


• Aching joints or muscles


• Need to reduce activities

If you notice these, bringing them up with your doctor is wise. A quick screening for sarcopenia involves an assessment of grip strength.

Managing Decreased Muscle Mass

While some muscle loss is inevitable with biological aging, lifestyle strategies can help slow muscle loss substantially. Evidence shows the following are beneficial:

• Progressive strength training with resistance bands, weights or calisthenics


• Getting adequate dietary protein - up to 1.2 grams per kg of body weight


• Doing balance exercises and fall prevention programs


• Managing any underlying diseases proactively


• Taking vitamin D supplements if deficient

With customized bioidentical hormone therapy including testosterone, human growth hormone or other vital hormones matched to your needs, you can rebuild muscle strength, achieve gains from your workouts again, boost energy and turn back the clock on sarcopenia. Our amazing patients see life-changing results - contact Hormone Health Clinic today for your free consultation!