What Causes Muscle Atrophy?

Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury can lead to muscle atrophy, particularly when it causes paralysis. With paralysis, an individual's nerves are unable to send the signals to their muscles to move, making it impossible or very difficult to move certain parts of the body. Paralyzed individuals can experience muscle atrophy because of their inability to use their muscles, though there are some treatments to help with this. Peripheral nerve injuries can also lead to muscle wasting when they cause paralysis or loss of feeling. The peripheral nervous system encompasses all the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord and into the rest of the body. In addition to muscle atrophy, patients with spinal cord injuries often experience a loss in bone density. This loss of bone density makes individuals more susceptible to fractures. Some patients with spinal cord injuries have experienced fractures during movements as simple as transitioning from a wheelchair to their bed. Some treatments used include standing and electrical stimulation with cycling, walking, and resistance training.

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