Muscle mass and strength tend to decline with age, but excessive weakness or loss of function should not simply be dismissed as getting older. Activity, nutrition, chronic illness and other medical factors can all contribute.
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Muscle loss, weakness & healthy ageing
Muscle mass and strength tend to decline with age, but excessive weakness or loss of function should not simply be dismissed as getting older. Activity, nutrition, chronic illness and other medical factors can all contribute.
MMS plain-English explanation
Understand the concern without losing the medical meaning.
The important issue is not just how much muscle is visible. Strength and function matter: getting out of a chair, walking, carrying groceries and keeping balance. Significant age-related loss of muscle strength and function is often called sarcopenia.
✓Change in strength, walking speed, balance and ability to perform daily tasks
✓Weight change, appetite and protein/nutrition intake
✓Physical-activity and resistance-training history
Strength & functional assessment
Function, strength, nutrition and medical contributors should be reviewed before assuming a supplement, hormone or wellness treatment is the answer.
Medical weight & metabolic management
Weight-management plans should protect muscle and nutrition, particularly in older adults or when prescription weight-loss treatment is used.
This information can help you understand possibilities and prepare better questions. It does not confirm a diagnosis or make a treatment suitable for you. A qualified healthcare professional needs to review your personal symptoms, history, examination, tests, medicines and contraindications before making a medical decision.
What usually needs checking first
- ✓Change in strength, walking speed, balance and ability to perform daily tasks
- ✓Weight change, appetite and protein/nutrition intake
- ✓Physical-activity and resistance-training history
- ✓Medication and chronic-disease review
- ✓Functional or body-composition assessment where clinically useful
Seek prompt medical attention if
- !Sudden one-sided weakness or new neurological symptoms
- !Rapid unexplained muscle loss or major unintentional weight loss
- !Repeated falls, fainting or inability to walk safely
- !Severe weakness with breathing or swallowing difficulty
Topics you may discuss
Not every treatment belongs at the same evidence level.
These links are intended to help you research and prepare questions. They are not a recommendation that you undergo the treatment.
Strength & functional assessment
Assessment firstFunction, strength, nutrition and medical contributors should be reviewed before assuming a supplement, hormone or wellness treatment is the answer.
Read more →Medical weight & metabolic management
Established clinical pathwayWeight-management plans should protect muscle and nutrition, particularly in older adults or when prescription weight-loss treatment is used.
Read more →Next step
Turn research into a qualified discussion.
Bring your symptoms, history, medications, test results and questions. MMS can help organise the discussion; a qualified professional decides what assessment or treatment is appropriate.