Muscle atrophy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Active vs. inactive muscle

Muscular atrophy

Overview

Treatment

Muscle atrophy

Alternative Names:

Muscle wasting; Wasting; Atrophy of the muscles

Home Care:

Application of moist heat is recommended along with whirlpool baths and resistive exercises.

Unless prohibited by the doctor, active exercises are recommended where a full range of motion is achieved. Exercises using braces or splints are recommended for those who cannot actively move one or more joints.

Call your health care provider if:

there is any unexplained, prolonged muscle atrophy.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting muscle atrophy in detail may include:

time pattern
- When did it begin?
- Is it getting worse?
location
- What muscle is affected?
other
- What other symptoms are present?

The extent of atrophy will be determined by observation and limb circumference measurements.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

CT scans of affected area
electromyography
muscle biopsy
nerve conduction studies
X-rays of affected area
ultrasound therapy and in some cases, surgery (to correct a contracture)

After seeing your health care provider:

You may want to add a diagnosis related to muscle atrophy to your personal medical record.

Review Date: 7/28/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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