UK-N/A-2200384 (V3) | September 2025
Authors:
Ian Taylor
Deborah Howland
Beverley Marwood
Dr Anuj Patel
Lesley Roberts
Dr Adrian Slee
Dr Sanjay Suman
Dr Julie Whitney
Publish Date:
November 2023 | 6 min
Abstract:
Loss of muscle mass, strength and function are strongly associated with poor health outcomes including increased falls and fractures.1 Management strategies that help to maintain muscle mass can really make a difference to patients and should be encouraged from an early stage, including nutrition and regular exercise.
However, these interventions are often overlooked in falls/ hip fracture pathways, resulting in patients who are too weak to exercise due to low energy and poor nutritional status.
A multidisciplinary group including specialist dietitians, physicians, nurses and physiotherapists came together in 2019 to discuss key issues and develop a best practice consensus on this area. This resource has been designed to integrate with existing pathways (e.g. frailty and post fall/fracture pathways) and to provide practical guidance on screening, functional assessment, management strategies involving nutrition and exercise, monitoring and education.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Understand the role and importance of skeletal muscle in health.
Learn how to incorporate practical guidance on screening, functional assessment, and management strategies involving nutrition and exercise into patient pathways.
Highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in preventing falls.
AUTHOR(S) BIO
The consensus group was chaired by:
IAN TAYLOR
Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, UCLH, London
The other members of the consensus group were:
DEBORAH HOWLAND
Specialist Dietitian and Acute Team Leader, Torbay Hospital
BEVERLEY MARWOOD
Senior Physiotherapist, Community Integrated Assessment Team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
DR ANUJ PATEL, GP
Wentworth Medical Practice, London
LESLEY ROBERTS
Integrated Service Manager for End of Life and Admission Avoidance Services, Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
DR ADRIAN SLEE
Senior Teaching Fellow in Nutrition, University College London
DR SANJAY SUMAN
Clinical Director Therapies and Older Persons Programme, Medway NHS Foundation Trust, Kent
DR JULIE WHITNEY
Physiotherapist and Academic, Academic Department of Physiotherapy, King’s College, London
Job roles accurate at the time of publication.
References:
1. Deutz NEP et al. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2019;20(1):22-27.
