13 Oct Sarcopenia – (Part 1); What is it?

Sarcopenia – What is it?

Sarcopenia is a such a good word for a start. We all know what a coffin is. What we may not know is that in old Greek a coffin was known as a sarcophagus because it was a “flesheater”. From sarco meaning flesh and phagos meaning eating. A bit graphic but we can see the connection.

In sarcopenia the sarco still means flesh but the penia means poverty. So sarcopenia refers to the lack of flesh, in particular as we age.

We all lose muscle size as we get older in a process we call atrophy. Sarcopenia differs in that it is not just to a loss of muscle size but also to a loss of muscle cells.

How does sarcopenia affect you?

It can greatly impact the quality of your life in many ways including;

1. Reducing your ability to perform your daily life activities
2. Muscle loss accelerates bone loss to increase risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis
3.  Increase fatigue
4. Increase weakness and frailty

This means that sarcopenia is associated and/or causal in such things as:

1. Loss of independence
2. Falls and fractures (particularly hip and arm)
3. Hospitalization and surgeries

OK…its important. In Part 2 we will talk about why it happens.

See you then.

Sarcopenia
Sarcopenia (Part 2); Why do we get it?

Greg Conlan Principal Chiropractor

Chiropractor with 35 years of private practice experience in Melbourne, Australia. Greg has had many years of work in Northcote, Essendon and surrounding suburbs helping people with their lower back pain as well as shoulders, hips and knees. As a "senior" himself, Greg particularly enjoys helping over 40's regain their physical wellbeing and get back into life.

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