Muscle loss, known medically as muscle atrophy, occurs when muscle fibers shrink and weaken over time. This leads to reduced muscle mass and strength.
There are two main causes of muscle loss:
Age-related muscle loss is also called sarcopenia. As we get older, muscles naturally lose strength, mass and function. Hormone changes and reduced physical activity are main drivers. Sarcopenia starts in our 30s and worsens over decades.
Disuse atrophy can happen at any age after injury, bedrest or illness leads to long periods without muscle use. Just two weeks off your feet can spur rapid wasting away of hard-earned muscle.
How do you slow muscle loss? Stopping atrophy begins with understanding what fuels your muscle growth versus breakdown. Progressive resistance training and eating a protein-rich diet are key. But targeted hormonal therapies can also help.
This is where Vital Hormones Clinic shines! Our licensed hormone optimization programs help both men and women boost testosterone, growth hormone and other muscle-protecting hormones. Clients see improved vitality, fitness and body composition within weeks.
Back to science - researchers found testosterone particularly key for building muscle mass. But levels decline nearly 1% year after age 30 in men. No wonder those gym gains prove harder in our 40s!
Growth hormone (GH) is another player. Called the "fitness hormone", GH plummets 14% per decade as we age. Less GH makes it tougher to maintain and grow lean muscle mass. No GH and you may store more belly fat instead.
Can you rebuild atrophied muscle? Yes! But it takes strategic effort as we age. Progressive overload training, eating more protein while managing calories and hormones together stimulate muscle protein synthesis. This tilts your body from teardown towards sustain and build modes again.
Small muscle fiber tears from intense resistance training release local hormones that activate satellite stem cells. This sparks muscle repair and growth so lost mass can be regained. It's the secret sauce of body builders!
In summary, muscle loss is unavoidable but treatable. Work smart to offset sarcopenia and atrophy! Blend right exercise, nutrition plus hormone optimization with guidance from our Vital Hormones Clinic experts. We help clients hit fitness goals in their 40s, 50s and beyond!