- Muscle wasting, also commonly known as atrophy, is a reduction in muscle mass in the body which leads to weaker muscles. Muscles can be so significantly weakened that a person becomes frail and unable to move easily of their own accord. Atrophy can be caused by a variety of factors, but generally, atrophy is split into two categories: disuse atrophy and neurogenic atrophy. Atrophy can be lessened in severity or completely reversed through proper rehabilitation of the muscles, though this is often difficult or impossible with neurogenic atrophy.
- Disuse atrophy is a weakness of the muscles which occurs from failing to properly engage and exercise the muscles. When muscles rarely contract, the body has no cause to build up or maintain the muscle's mass, and over time the muscles will be break down. "If you don't use it you lose it," is a common saying among athletes, which is indicative of this condition. Some level of disuse atrophy can be fine for athletes that stop a high level of physical activity. A football player, wrestler or other athlete with top condition and high muscle mass will have to work out constantly just to maintain their muscle mass. Severe disuse atrophy is most common in very sedentary people and as the result of injuries that cause a person to become bedridden for extended periods of time. Casts worn to protect broken bones often cause the muscles underneath to atrophy. Malnourishment can also contribute greatly to wasting, since the body can feed on the muscles if there is not enough energy being provided by calorie intake and fat stores. Eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia can contribute to muscle wasting.
- Neurogenic atrophy is wasting which occurs due to an injury or disease that affects the nerves which allow the muscles to be controlled and contracted. If a person is unable to voluntarily control their muscles, the muscles will go unused and waste away. Neurogenic atrophy tends to lead to atrophy which onsets more quickly than wasting caused by disuse, and can lead to a significant reduction in quality of life. Several conditions can cause neurogenic atrophy including paralysis, spinal cord damage, stroke, burns, and arthritis.
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