What is the most common cause of muscle atrophy?

What is the most common cause of muscle atrophy?

• A. Overuse
• B. Injury
• C. Lack of exercise
• D. Aging

Answer: (C)

Regular use keeps muscles strong, while not using them leads to shrinkage. When a muscle isn’t exercised, protein synthesis slows and breakdown can outpace growth, so the muscle fibers lose size and strength—a process known as disuse atrophy. This disuse is the most common way muscles atrophy in everyday life, because many people lead sedentary lifestyles or have periods of inactivity. Aging and injury can also cause atrophy, but the typical, everyday trigger most people encounter is simply not exercising enough. Regular resistance training, by contrast, boosts protein synthesis and helps prevent or reverse this loss.

Regular use keeps muscles strong, while not using them leads to shrinkage. When a muscle isn’t exercised, protein synthesis slows and breakdown can outpace growth, so the muscle fibers lose size and strength—a process known as disuse atrophy. This disuse is the most common way muscles atrophy in everyday life, because many people lead sedentary lifestyles or have periods of inactivity. Aging and injury can also cause atrophy, but the typical, everyday trigger most people encounter is simply not exercising enough. Regular resistance training, by contrast, boosts protein synthesis and helps prevent or reverse this loss.