Muscle Atrophy

Muscle atrophy is the loss or wasting of muscle tissue throughout the body. There are
two basic ways in which this disease can form. The most severe form of this disease is
neurogenic atrophy, a disease caused when an injury or disease harms the nerve
which attaches to the muscle. This damage can occur quite suddenly. The second
type of this disease is disuse atrophy which is caused by a lack of physical activity.
When your muscles are not used often or movement is limited, your muscles can be
damaged. This is a significant concern for those who are bedridden.
Etiology
isuse muscle atrophy is rather self!e"planatory. #ny sedentary lifestyle that results in
very little e"ercise can promote muscle atrophy. The less muscles that are used, the
more serious the concern for developing this disease is. This can also cause heart
trouble because the heart is also a muscle which can begin to break down if it is not
properly e"ercised with therapeutic e"ercise on a regular basis.
$eurogenic muscle atrophy is caused by the nerves attached to the muscle becomes
damaged from something such as a stroke, %ou &ehrig's disease or multiple sclerosis.
When nerve damage to a muscle is interrupted so it cannot get to the brain, peripheral
nerves or the spinal cord you may not be able to use the muscle properly. (f the nerve
is compressed due to an injury this can also result in decreased blood flow to the
nerve which can result in the muscle breaking down and becoming damaged.
Symptoms
Weak and flabby muscle
Damaged muscle
Pain and difficulty in moving
Heart failure
http://www.md-health.com/Muscle-Atrophy.html