STRENGTH FOR LIFE

WHY HEALTHY MUSCLES ARE IMPORTANT FOR OUR HEALTH

Adult_living_with_Muscle_loss
DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 600 MUSCLES IN THE ADULT BODY?1
Having healthy muscles is vital for our health. Sometimes though, if we have an illness or an injury, our muscles can shrink or weaken.2
Happy mother and great grandfather looking at boy playing piano in house

This page gives you more information about muscle and its important role for our health and advice on what to do if you spot the signs that you are losing muscle. 

THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF MUSCLE FOR OUR HEALTH

Muscles play an important role in the way our bodies function.3 Our muscles help us walk, move around, sit and stand, and make more subtle movements, such as facial expressions and moving our eyes.4 We also use muscles for chewing, swallowing and breathing.2

Our muscles also play an important role in storing protein and breaking it down into energy when our body needs it. 

However, when we get ill or injured, our bodies might need more energy to recover,2 and we may not feel like eating as much as we usually do, which can mean we don’t get the protein, energy, vitamins and minerals our body needs.5,6 When this happens, our body may use the protein that is stored in our muscles to get the energy it needs to recover and this can lead to muscle loss.

It is also common to lose muscle as we age.7 

  IN FACT...

Adult icon

 WHAT MALNUTRITON AND MUSCLE LOSS CAN MEAN FOR OUR HEALTH

As we get older, we become more at risk of malnutrition and/or our muscles getting weaker.
There are many reasons that this might happen, including:2,5,7

Getting sick more
often

Losing balance or
falling more often

Breaking
bones

Wounds taking
longer to heal

Getting more
infections

Adult icon

 HOW CAN GOOD NUTRITION HELP KEEP OUR MUSCLES STRONG?

Malnutrition, where our body doesn’t get enough of the nutrients it needs can often lead to muscle loss.5,8
However, getting the right protein, energy, vitamins and minerals into your diet can help:9,10

Keep our muscles healthy

Improve our strength

Holistic Support Icon

 HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS OF MALNUTRITION AND MUSCLE LOSS

If you have noticed that you or someone you love is becoming weaker or more tired than usual, or is losing weight, then your healthcare professional (e.g. GP or nurse) may give you help to get the protein, energy, vitamins and minerals you need to stay well and keep your muscles strong.

It is really important to be on the lookout for any symptoms of malnutriton and muscle loss, as the sooner you see your healthcare professional, the more likely it will be that any problems can be treated.

SYMPTOMS TO LOOK OUT FOR INCLUDE:5,11

Clothing or jewellery feeling loose
 

Not feeling like you want to eat as much as you usually do

Feeling tired or weak

 

Low mood or depression

Losing your balance or falling more often

Finding it harder to do everyday tasks

If you see any of these signs, contact your healthcare professional, who can check whether you are getting the nutrition you need to help you stay strong and healthy.

Adult icon

 NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS WITH MUSCLE LOSS

Your healthcare professional may offer you nutritional support to help treat any signs of muscle loss. They might give you tips for what to eat to get more of the key nutrients you need to stay strong. 

In cases where weight loss or muscle loss is a little more severe, your healthcare professional may recommend oral nutritional supplements (ONS, sometimes called sip feeds) to take on top of what you would normally eat. These supplements can help provide the calories, protein and other important vitamins and minerals that your body needs, even if you do not feel well enough to eat or exercise.

References:

 1. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 2023. Healthy Muscles Matter. Available online: https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/kids/healthy-muscles Last accessed February 2023.
2. Argiles JM et al. JAMDA 2016;17:789-796.
3. McLeod M et al. Biogerontology 2016;17:497-510.
4. National Cancer Institute, 2024. Introduction to the Muscular System. Available online: https://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/muscular/ Last accessed February 2024.
5. NHS, 2020. Malnutrition. Available online: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/. Last accessed February 2024.
6. Waltson JD. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2012;24(6): 623-627.
7. Flakoll P et al. Nutrition 2004;20:445-451.
8. Deutz NEP et al. JAMDA 2019;20(1)
9. Baum JI et al. Nutrients 2016;8:359.
10. Deutz NE et al. Clin Nutr 2021;40(3):1388-1395.
11. Malnutrition Pathway, 2021. Sarcopenia: loss of muscle mass. Available online: https://www.malnutritionpathway.co.uk/library/factsheet_sarcopenia.pdf. 

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