What Are The Treatment For Muscle Atrophy?
The treatment for muscle atrophy depends on the causes and the type of muscle atrophy. The Disused muscles atrophy can be manage and treated using dietary management (healthy nutrition), and exercise by minor walking and stretching the limbs therefore using the muscles by increasing the level of physical activities.
See and consult your dietician to plan the menu to meet up with the nutrients requirements and the diet modification.
While Neurogenic muscle atrophy may be treated by special physical therapy called Electrical Stimulation.Its done by placing electrodes on the skin over the muscles. The electrodes will send electrical impulses to the nerves and muscles which will artificially exercise or contract the muscles. It can help to retain or maintain the muscles mass and strength. Please take note that the physical therapy can only be carry out by a qualify physical therapist.
Other treatment is the ultrasound therapy: this method of treatment uses sound waves to heal the muscles especially if the muscles tissues become fibrous (contracture)
Sometimes if in severe condition then surgery will be carry out by specialist to correct the muscles tissues. If not corrected the tissues makes it hard for muscle to stretch automatically preventing movement.
Consult your dietician to plan the menu to meet the nutrients requirements and the diet modification of high protein, low carbohydrates and low fat, high in fiber,omega 3 fatty acids. Disused muscles atrophy can be treated, healed and reversed but it require being patient because is a very slow process to heal.The victims must abides to the rules and regulations to achieve positive result .
What Are The Dietary Management For Muscle Atrophy?
- Low carbohydrates, low fat and high protein.
- Increase protein foods for cells and tissues repair and formation of healthy muscle.
- Protein foods such as egg white, skinless chicken, lean meat.
- Milk and milk products. 🥩 (fat and sugar free).
- plants protein foods such as beans, Barbara nuts, groundnut, peanut, green peas, lentils.
- Increase protein intake beyond normal recommended intake of 1grams to 1.2 grams per kilograms body weight of a normal healthy adults to at least 1.5 grams to 2 grams of protein per kilograms body weight of the patient. Example a patient weighing 60 kg should be giving protein worth 1.5 x 60 = 90 and 2grams multiply by 60 kg.
- Avoid saturated fats such as butter, margarine, lard they are bad fats that accumulate and creat inflammation and oxidation of the nerves and muscles.
- They blocks and stick to all parts ways preventing the easy flow of oxygenated blood to all parts of the body therefore depriving some vital organs and systems if the body oxygen causing disease conditions including muscles atrophy.
- Increase unsaturated fats such as omega3 fatty acids from fish such as sardines, tuna, salmon and herring fish 🐟 avoid catfish is high in omega6 fatty acids
- Vegetables oil such as olive oil, soy oil, avocado 🥑 are good sources of unsaturated fats from plant origin therefore should be included in the diet.
- Good fats helps to breakdown of muscles by interfering with the inflammatory process.
- Increase calcium and vitamin D in the diet The two micro nutrients plays vital roles in proper bones and muscles repairs and formations (muscular skeletal system).
- Rich sources of calcium includes fish, eggs 🥚, milk and milk products 🥛, dark green leafy vegetables, bones from animals such beef bones, goat, chicken.
- Good sources of vitamin D includes fish, meat, milk and milk products, eggs but the best and most easy way to get adequate vitamin D is by exposure to sunlight it helps to raise and maintain vitamin D, therefore boost the rapid absorption of calcium for muscles tissues repairs and replacement.
- Sometimes supplements of protein and micro nutrients are recommend in order to meet up the target requirements and achieve positive goals.
- Studies have shown that decrease in protein intake leads to decrease in protein synthesis which cause low formation of muscles tissues and increase in protein degradation.Therefore increase the protein high in the amino leucine.Add vegetables of green leafy such as spinach, amaranthus, pumpkin leaves, jute, water leaves, bitter leaves, baobab leaves they are rich sources of fiber, calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin K.
- Also vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, cucumber are low in carbohydrates and calories but they provides energy and photochemicals that prevent inflammation and oxidation of the muscles tissues.
- Includes whole grains and cereals in the diet, they are good sources of fiber and the B vitamins and the fiber contents will prevent excess glucose, fats and toxins into the blood stream which can stop the accumulation of plagues in the body and prevent inflammation and oxidation of the muscles tissues.
- Increase and include fruits into the diet daily, they are good sources of fiber and micro nutrients such vitamin C for proper wound healing and helps in producing collagen in tissues formation, sometimes vitamin C supplements are prescribed.
- Add reasonable amount of vitamin A to the diet to prevent the muscles atrophy in the face from affecting the eyes and causes poor vision.
- Good sources of vitamin A are carrots, liver, meat, palm oil, egg yolk,
- But note that the patient must see a dietician for dietary counselling and menu plan that will provide adequate amount of vitamin A needed for the condition because excess of the vitamin causes hyper avitaminosis A and it has bad effects on the liver, kidney, brain and the skin.
- Avoid alcohol, smoking and reduce intake of coffee.
- Produce a natural green tea with lemongrass, mint leaves and,ginger garlic to boost the immune system.Your dietician will guide you on the green tea production.
- Increase level of physical activities by exercising daily such as walking and aerobic (dancing) twice a day for 1 hour in order to improve blood circulation and braking down of the muscles tissues and generally prevent muscles atrophy.