Symptoms and treatment of leg and arm muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy is the thinning of their fibers and reduction of the total muscle volume. At the same time, muscle tissue can be replaced by connective tissue that is not able to contract. This is how the atrophy of the muscles of the hand, lower leg and other parts of the body develops.
Causes of muscle atrophy
A pathological condition can develop under the influence of various provoking factors. Most often, muscle atrophy is observed in the elderly, which is associated with natural aging processes: metabolism (metabolism in muscle tissues) slows down, physical activity decreases. But there are other reasons for the development of pathology:
- disruption of the body's hormonal balance - it can develop with pathologies of the pancreas and thyroid gland, adrenal glands and ovaries;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- connective tissue pathology;
- peripheral nerve damage.
In some cases, the problem can be caused by hereditary diseases - for example, the cause of spinal muscular atrophy is genetic changes in the structures of the nervous system, which make voluntary muscle contractions impossible. Such diseases are manifested by problems with muscles already in early childhood. Muscle atrophy is often the only pronounced sign of the disease, which must be taken into account in the diagnosis.
A significant role in the development of muscle atrophy is played by nutrition and lifestyle - lack of vitamins and trace elements in the body, alcohol abuse eventually lead to the pathology under consideration.
Symptoms of muscle atrophy
Treatment of leg and arm muscle atrophy should be preceded by a pathology diagnosis. Doctors emphasize that it is necessary to pay attention to the following signs:
- fatigue;
- weakness in the muscles against the background of physical exertion;
- decrease in muscle volume;
- difficulties in performing physical work.
Symptoms of muscle atrophy are never acute, they are characterized by a gradual increase. Pathology develops gradually, years may pass before it is diagnosed. But a decrease in the volume of the affected muscle can also be observed at an early stage of the development of the pathology.
Over time, atrophy of the thigh muscles leads to the inability to walk long and fast, climb the stairs, even getting out of bed can be difficult.
With atrophy of the heart muscle, the patient complains of an uncontrollable increase or slowing of the heartbeat, sudden flushes of heat to the face, periodic numbness of the fingers of the upper extremities, shortness of breath during physical exertion, and then at rest. Atrophic changes in the heart muscle are considered the most dangerous, because in the absence of adequate treatment, they can lead to death.
Treatment of muscle atrophy
Even knowing which diseases are accompanied by muscle atrophy, the doctor should prescribe additional methods of examination and only after making an accurate diagnosis determine the treatment. Often, after the stabilization of the general condition, stopping the progression of the main pathology or putting it into remission, the signs of atrophic changes in muscle tissues also disappear. With genetic diseases, it is impossible to completely stop the progression of the pathology, but it is possible to slow it down.
The general principles of treatment of muscle atrophy include:
- medical treatment;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- do sports.
Therapy is prescribed individually. These can be painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which will be relevant in severe pain syndrome. An individual approach is especially important when choosing the treatment of this pathology in children - for example, in the treatment of leg muscle atrophy in a child.
Remedial gymnastics and massage are important in treatment. Exercises to restore muscles in case of atrophy are developed individually. Initially, they are performed under the supervision of a specialist, further classes can be conducted independently at home.
Competent treatment, compliance with all the recommendations of doctors prevent the progression of the pathology, the patient can live a full life for a long time.
You can find out more about the pathology, as well as which specialists perform massage for lower limb muscle atrophy, on the pages of our site Dobrobut.com.
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