4: Immobility and rehabilitation

Question 1

Every trauma, illness or long-term condition causes some decrease in a patient’s overall level of ___.

Answer 1

function

Question 2

What is the name given to an age-related loss of muscle mass and function?

Answer 2

Sarcopenia

Question 3

What is sarcopenia?

Answer 3

Age-related loss of muscle mass and function

i.e your muscles get smaller and they’re not as strong or fast-acting

Question 4

The criteria for sarcopenia are

1. reduced muscle mass
2. reduced muscle strength
3. reduced physical performance

What is a test which can be used to measure each?

Answer 4

1. Any imaging - MRI, CT, DEXA

2. Hand grip dynamometry

3. Observe gait or sit-to-stand test

Question 5

At what age does sarcopenia start?

Answer 5

30 years

Question 6

At what age does sarcopenia accelerate?

Answer 6

60 years

Question 7

At what age does sarcopenia

a) start
b) accelerate?

Answer 7

a) 30 years

b) 60 years

Question 8

As you age, muscle mass decreases and ___ mass increases.

Answer 8

fat mass increases

Question 9

What endocrine condition are older people more susceptible to?

Why?

Answer 9

Diabetes

Increased fat deposition causes insulin resistance (body needs to make more insulin to transport glucose into adipose tissue, sugar everywhere, beta cells, I can’t remember endocrine come back to this)

Question 10

Why is immobility described as a vicious cycle?

Answer 10

Immobile people develop muscle atrophy

Atrophied muscles hinder physical activity

So patients exercise less

Lack of exercise causes muscle atrophy

Question 11

People with sarcopenia have weaker muscles, making them more prone to falls.

What nutrients, when deficient, increase the likelihood of fracture following a fall?

Answer 11

Vitamin D

Calcium

Question 12

What are

a) activity related
b) diet related
c) disease related causes of sarcopenia?

Answer 12

a) Muscle disuse

b) Starvation, malabsorption

c) Cachexia (e.g cancer cells using loads of energy, causing weight loss)

Question 13

How is the rate of sarcopenia reduced?

Answer 13

Exercise

resistance training and aerobic training

Question 14

What is the recommended amount of exercise for adults?

Answer 14

150 mins of moderate exercise per week

or 30 mins 5x/week

Question 15

What nutritional supplements are proven to reduce the rate of sarcopenia?

Answer 15

Calcium

Vitamin D

Protein

Creatine

Question 16

Which class of antihypertensive drug is thought to reduce the rate of sarcopenia?

Answer 16

ACE inhibitors