#sarcopenia

Au Louvre-Lens, une expo : “Rome, la Cité et l’Empire”:

- les 2 premières : Cortège funéraire - fresque de la tombe de Patron, médecin grec - Rome, 25 av. J-C.

- les 2 suivantes : sarcophage évoquant le mythe de Séléné et Endymion - Saint-Médard (Gironde, Aquitaine), 235 apr. J-C.

- autel funéraire dédié aux Mânes d'Amemptus  Rome, 50 apr. J-C.

Screw that.

Muscle loss is not your destiny. You don’t have to sit there and take it. In fact, sitting there and taking it is the single best way to get sarcopenia; standing up and fighting is the single best way to avoid it. Plus, taking the necessary steps to mitigate or even prevent sarcopenia will help prevent all those other age-related maladies I mentioned in the opening paragraph.

https://www.marksdailyapple.com/sarcopenia-age-related-muscle-loss/

Bone Hard

Bones are the scaffold around which our whole bodies are built, but they’re not the rock-hard, unchanging structures we might imagine. They are living parts of our body, and their composition and contents can change as we grow and age. The degree of fat inside bone is a useful indicator of conditions like osteosarcopenia – a syndrome encompassing osteoporosis and sarcopenia that can include vitamin D deficiency, and is associated with damaging fractures and falls. Analysing a bone’s contents isn’t straightforward, and muscle and bone mass, assessed by a combination of imaging techniques, is a less accurate indicator often used in diagnosis. A new technique precisely quantifies fat infiltration (pictured, bones visualised at different stages of transparency to reveal their make-up), which should allow much earlier and more accurate diagnosis. This could give patients advance warning of trouble to come, helping them avoid risks and live with greater independence for longer.

Written by Anthony Lewis

Image by the Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science

Research by M. Imani, E. Bani Hassan and G. Duque, Australian Institute for Musculoskeletal Science (AIMSS), The University of Melbourne and Western Health, Melbourne, Australia

Image copyright held by the original authors

Research presented at World Congress of Osteoporosis, 2020, See page 552-3

Core Condition

These images are computed tomography (CT) scans of the core muscles (highlighted in red) of two individuals. One clearly has thick healthy muscles, while the other’s are thin and frail. Along with deepening wrinkles and greying hair, muscle loss – or sarcopenia as its known to doctors – is one of the changes that happen as a person ages. Indeed, it’s the reason elderly people are prone to falling and fracturing their hips. To assess damage after a hip fracture, doctors sometimes perform CT scans, which unlike X-rays also provide information about the muscles. And that’s useful because it’s now understood that the size and density of a patient’s muscles, can predict their ability to recover and survive after a hip fracture. Measuring the muscles of hip fracture patients could therefore be a useful tool for guiding treatment decisions, such as the type of surgery, and the required follow-up care.

Written by Ruth Williams

Image from work by Robert D. Boutin and colleagues

Department of Radiology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA

Image copyright UC Regents 2017

Research published in the American Journal of Roentgenology, June 2017

PACE Hospitals offers advanced sarcopenia treatment in Hyderabad, India, providing comprehensive care for age-related muscle loss and associated functional decline. Our specialists focus on accurate sarcopenia diagnosis through detailed clinical evaluation, muscle strength assessment, body composition analysis, and advanced diagnostic techniques, followed by personalized treatment plans to improve strength, mobility, and quality of life.

From early-stage sarcopenia to severe muscle wasting in older adults, we deliver both medical and supportive management, including nutrition therapy, sarcopenia diet planning, exercise rehabilitation, and lifestyle modification. Our goal is to restore muscle mass, enhance physical performance, and prevent complications such as falls and frailty across all age groups.

Many people believe that losing muscle is a normal part of ageing and nothing can be done about it. While some muscle loss occurs naturally with age, excessive muscle loss, known as sarcopenia, is a medical condition that can affect strength, balance, mobility, and independence. The good news is that early diagnosis and proper treatment can slow its progression and, in many cases, improve muscle strength and physical function.

What is Sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia is the gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. It is most common in older adults, but it can also occur in younger people with chronic illnesses, prolonged bed rest, poor nutrition, or a sedentary lifestyle. As muscles become weaker, everyday activities such as climbing stairs, standing up from a chair, carrying groceries, or walking for long distances become more difficult.

What Causes Sarcopenia?

Several factors can contribute to sarcopenia, including:

Natural ageing

Lack of regular physical activity

Low protein intake or malnutrition

Long-term illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, or cancer

Hormonal changes

Vitamin D deficiency

Extended periods of bed rest or inactivity

Often, more than one factor is responsible for muscle loss.

What Are the Symptoms?

Symptoms usually develop gradually and may include:

Muscle weakness

Reduced grip strength

Difficulty walking or climbing stairs

Frequent falls or poor balance

Slower walking speed

Fatigue

Noticeable loss of muscle size

Difficulty performing routine daily activities

These symptoms should not be ignored, especially in older adults.

How Is Sarcopenia Diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose sarcopenia using a combination of:

Medical history and physical examination

Muscle strength tests

Walking speed and functional assessments

Body composition analysis such as DEXA or Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

Blood tests to identify nutritional deficiencies or underlying medical conditions

Early diagnosis allows treatment to begin before severe disability develops.

Can Sarcopenia Be Treated?

Yes. Although there is no single medicine that cures sarcopenia, it can be effectively managed with a combination of treatments.

The most important treatment is progressive resistance exercise, which helps rebuild muscle strength. A protein-rich diet, along with adequate vitamin D and other nutritional support when needed, also plays a major role. Doctors may additionally treat underlying conditions contributing to muscle loss and recommend physiotherapy or structured rehabilitation programs.

Can It Be Prevented?

In many people, yes. The risk of sarcopenia can be reduced by:

Staying physically active

Performing strength-training exercises regularly

Eating enough high-quality protein

Maintaining a healthy body weight

Correcting vitamin deficiencies

Managing chronic medical conditions effectively

Healthy lifestyle habits started early can significantly reduce the risk of severe muscle loss later in life.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Consult a doctor if you notice persistent muscle weakness, repeated falls, difficulty getting out of a chair, slower walking, or unexplained loss of muscle mass. Early medical evaluation can help identify the cause and improve long-term outcomes before muscle loss becomes severe.

Sarcopenia is not something that should simply be accepted as a part of ageing. With timely diagnosis, proper nutrition, regular exercise, and appropriate medical care, many people can improve their muscle strength, remain active, and maintain their independence for years to come.

Why Choose PACE Hospitals for Sarcopenia Treatment?

🏥 Comprehensive Evaluation: Detailed assessment to identify muscle loss, weakness, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying medical conditions.

👨‍⚕️ Experienced Multidisciplinary Team: Care from specialists in internal medicine, geriatrics, endocrinology, nutrition, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation.

🔬 Advanced Diagnostic Facilities: Accurate diagnosis using body composition analysis, muscle strength assessment, functional tests, and laboratory investigations.

💪 Personalised Treatment Plans: Individualised exercise programs, nutritional counselling, protein supplementation, and medical management tailored to each patient.

🥗 Expert Nutrition Support: Dietitian-guided meal plans to improve muscle mass, strength, and overall health.

🚶 Comprehensive Rehabilitation: Structured physiotherapy and strength-training programs to improve mobility, balance, and reduce the risk of falls.

📋 Management of Underlying Conditions: Integrated care for diabetes, kidney disease, hormonal disorders, and other conditions contributing to sarcopenia.

❤️ Long-Term Follow-up Care: Regular monitoring of muscle strength, physical performance, and treatment progress to achieve the best possible outcomes.

Conclusion

A sarcopenia, perda progressiva de massa muscular que costuma começar após os 30 anos e se acelerar a partir dos 60, é um dos grandes desafios do envelhecimento. Ela traz mais cansaço, menos força e maior risco de quedas, comprometendo a independência de muitas pessoas. Felizmente, o whey protein tem se mostrado um aliado valioso nesse processo, e entender por que ele funciona tão bem ajuda a escolher a melhor opção.

Por que o whey protein faz diferença

O whey é considerado a proteína mais indicada para combater a sarcopenia por alguns motivos centrais. Primeiro, sua absorção é rápida, o que é especialmente importante para idosos, cujo organismo tem mais dificuldade em processar nutrientes. Segundo, ele é rico em leucina, aminoácido essencial que ativa diretamente a síntese muscular — e o whey contém mais leucina que qualquer outra fonte proteica comum. Além disso, é mais fácil de digerir do que carnes e outras proteínas sólidas, o que reduz desconfortos digestivos frequentes nessa fase da vida. Por fim, a praticidade de preparar um shake supera, e muito, o trabalho de cozinhar uma refeição rica em proteína, algo relevante para quem mora só ou tem limitações na cozinha.

As melhores opções do mercado

Entre os whey proteins mais recomendados para sarcopenia estão produtos como o Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, conhecido pela alta concentração de aminoácidos essenciais; o Dux Nutrition, uma alternativa nacional com bom valor biológico e preço mais acessível; e o Dymatize ISO 100, indicado especialmente para quem tem dificuldades digestivas, já que é hidrolisado e isento de lactose. Outras opções de destaque incluem Integralmédica Whey 100% Pure, voltado para quem busca economia no uso contínuo; Max Titanium 100% Whey, que combina três tipos de proteína para absorção gradual; Vitafor Whey Fort, ideal para recuperação após atividades leves; e Atlhetica Nutrition Best Whey, que se destaca pelo sabor, favorecendo a adesão ao tratamento a longo prazo.

Como e quando consumir

A dose recomendada para quem tem sarcopenia costuma ser maior do que a indicada para a população em geral: entre 1,2 e 1,5g de proteína por quilo de peso corporal por dia, sempre com orientação médica ou nutricional. O horário ao despertar é considerado essencial, já que o corpo passa a noite sem receber proteína e pode começar a consumir o próprio tecido muscular. Tomar whey após atividades físicas leves, como caminhadas, e entre as refeições principais também potencializa os resultados.

Exercício é parte fundamental do processo

O consumo de whey protein isoladamente não resolve a sarcopenia por completo. A combinação com exercícios de resistência, mesmo que leves — caminhadas, exercícios com faixas elásticas, hidroginástica ou simples movimentos com o peso do próprio corpo — multiplica os efeitos do suplemento na recuperação muscular.

Cuidados necessários

Pessoas com insuficiência renal avançada, alergia verdadeira à proteína do leite ou fenilcetonúria devem evitar o whey protein ou buscar alternativas, sempre sob orientação médica. Diabéticos e hipertensos podem usar o suplemento, mas com acompanhamento profissional para ajustes na dieta.

O caminho para recuperar força e independência

A sarcopenia é progressiva, mas não é irreversível. Com a escolha certa de whey protein, uso constante e a combinação com exercícios adequados, é possível recuperar massa muscular, força e qualidade de vida em poucos meses de tratamento.

What measurements or metrics should we take and record ? which ones can we do ourselves – and interpret what’s happening and which ones should we request from a helpful doctor ? When I first wrote the post about formulating a S.M.A.R,T, plan I trust that I kept the M (Measurement) as simple as I could make it with the inevitable result that I was measuring the wrong thing right from the start…

When I started my grand plan to lose weight and get fit I wondered if I could manage a quick hard hit and maybe get the job done in just a few months. Luckily for me I seem to have had a rush of oxygen to the brain and been able to make some long term changes which have just about settled into long term habits. Iv’e also come to realize that the lose weight/get fit is the fundamentally wrong way…