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According to the Cleveland Clinic, sarcopenia impacts your quality of life by reducing your ability to perform daily tasks and is a major factor in increased frailty, falls, and fractures. It can lead to the loss of your independence and the need for long-term care.
Sarcopenia is defined as an age-related, spontaneous loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Evidence suggests that beginning as early as the age of 40, skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength decline with up to a 50% loss by age 80. ~ Jeremy D. Walston, MD
Sarcopenia can lead to a decline and ultimately cause a loss of independence due to the following:
Poor nutrition
Obesity
Dental problems
Abnormal hormone levels
Age-related cell changes
Increased infection throughout the body
Inactive lifestyle
Approximately 10-20% of older adults have sarcopenia with symptoms such as an out-of-balance diet, difficulty with activities of daily living, weakness/fatigue, and decreased mobility and falls.
Three easy ways to prevent Sarcopenia are:
Make healthy food choices, including eating high-quality protein such as beans, legumes, or meat.
Start a regular strength-training program to improve muscle mass.
See your doctor every year to help you learn how to lower your risk for disease.
A physical therapist can assist you with:
Building strength
Maintaining good posture
Ease of walking with or without assistive devices
Getting up and down from chairs
Navigating stairs
Prevention of falls
Check out this great website: Aging in Motion: What Is Sarcopenia
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