What do master athletes and couch potatoes have in common?
Age-related sarcopenia!
Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass and function.
(1,2) Osteoporosis and its affiliated falls and fractures are connected
with sarcopenia. A grip strength test reveals just how much as women with lower grip strength have 11.7 times higher odds of having osteoporosis. (3) Amelia Chiropractic Clinic tests this and much more in our Fernandina Beach chiropractic patients to keep a look out for signs of sarcopenia and osteoporosis and help our patients ward it off and/or deal with it as best as possible.
DEFINITION
Sarcopenia is age- and activity-related. Physically inactive
people in Fernandina Beach and elsewhere can lose as much as 3% to 5% of
their muscle mass per decade of life after age 30. Physically active people
experience some muscle loss due to aging, but not usually as much. After age
75, sarcopenia really accelerates for most people though some experience it at
65 or 80. Whenever it occurs, the likelihood of falls and fractures increases
as does the occurrence of frailty. (2) Amelia Chiropractic Clinic encourages you to
understand sarcopenia and know that there are ways to minimize its effects,
particularly the falls which are life-altering and sometimes even
life-threatening for older folks.
CAUSE
Inactivity plays a big role, so Amelia Chiropractic Clinic continues to
encourage all of our Fernandina Beach chiropractic patients to get out and
do! However, even physically active people experience sarcopenia due to one or
more of these factors (2):
- Reduction in hormones
- Age-related reduction in nerves cells moving signals from
the brain to the muscles to start movement
- Decrease in ability to synthesize protein
- Not enough caloric intake or protein to sustain muscle mass
RISK
In this study comparing women with sarcopenia to women without, women with sarcopenia are at higher risk (3):
- 12.9 times higher odds of having osteoporosis,
- 2.7 times higher odds of having fractures, and
- 2.1 times higher risk of falls during the preceding 12 months.
TREATMENT
Exercise is huge! It’s an integral part of the
Fernandina Beach chiropractic treatment plan along with chiropractic spinal
manipulation with our Cox Technic for all our patients. It’s the primary treatment for sarcopenia
and its prevention. Resistance training and strength training with weights or
resistance bands build muscle. Such exercise positively influences protein
synthesis and hormone concentrations and the neuromuscular system. You may even
see changes in as little as 2 weeks! (2,3) So talk with us about your
exercise plan as the type, repetition, and frequency are all important factors
for it to be effective.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."