Loss of strength is a concerning symptom that can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life. It refers to a reduction in the ability to exert force with your muscles, resulting in feeling weaker than normal when performing routine physical tasks.
What causes a loss of strength? There are various potential reasons:
- Aging - As we get older, we naturally lose muscle mass and nerve cells, leading to reduced strength. This condition is called sarcopenia.
- Injuries - An injury that damages muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves can temporarily or permanently cause weakness. Examples are fractures, sprains, strains.
- Medical conditions - Numerous health problems can sap strength, like cardiovascular disease reducing blood flow, arthritis causing inflammation, neurological conditions disrupting nerve signals. Some examples are heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis.
- Inactivity - If you are bedridden, sedentary or immobilized in a cast, your muscles will weaken from disuse. This is called disuse atrophy.
- Nutritional deficiencies - Lacking key nutrients can impair muscle function. Vitamin D, magnesium, protein deficiencies are linked with reduced strength.
How can you tell if you have lost strength? Signs include:
- Difficulty lifting objects you once could easily
- Feeling exhausted after minimal physical exertion
- Muscle loss, especially in the arms and legs
- Trouble rising from a chair or climbing stairs without support
- Poor balance and increased falls
See your
doctor promptly if you notice unexplained loss of strength. They can check for underlying causes with blood tests, imaging scans and nerve conduction studies.
Treatment depends on the reason but may include:
- Exercise - Strength training helps rebuild muscle mass and function.
- Physical therapy - Targeted exercises can improve specific weaknesses.
- Medications - To treat deficiencies, inflammation, nerve damage.
- Surgery - For injuries requiring repair.
- Assistive equipment - Canes, walkers, braces provide support.
The specialists at
Harmony Hormone Clinic also recommend getting
hormone levels checked.
Low testosterone in men and
low estrogen in women is strongly associated with loss of strength due to reductions in muscle mass and bone density. Their cutting edge therapies can help restore optimal hormone balance, vitality and strength.
With proper treatment, many causes of strength loss can be improved or reversed. But even when the weakness cannot be fully corrected, adaptive strategies and assistive technology can help maximize independence and quality of life. The key is to consult your physician at the first sign of declining strength.