How To Manage Muscle Atrophy

Surgical Intervention

For patients with severe muscle atrophy, and patients who aren't seeing improvement with basic physical therapy and exercise, a more drastic surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgery won't be helpful in all muscle atrophy cases. No surgical cure can replace a patient's lost muscle mass. However, surgery can sometimes stop or eliminate an underlying cause of muscle atrophy, thus preventing further progression. For example, a torn tendon could cause muscle atrophy by making a patient's leg difficult to move, but surgery could correct it. In addition, patients with severe muscle atrophy tend to have muscle contractures and deformities. Surgery is often recommended to help with these contractures, especially if they interfere with mobility or cause pain.