Muscles weakness can be dangerous and even deadly if it’s not recognized and addressed quickly. Muscle weakness may also be an indication of other underlying health problems, so it’s important to learn the signs of muscle weakness so you can seek medical help as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms. Keep reading to learn about the signs of muscle weakness.
Loss of muscles mass
This is a sign that your muscles are becoming fragile. As you get older, it’s not uncommon for people to start having trouble building muscle mass, which means you could be losing strength as well. Muscle mass and strength have an inverse relationship.
The less muscle mass you have, the less able you will be to help your body stay strong, which leads to more muscles weakening over time. If you notice that something as small as walking upstairs is becoming a little bit harder than usual or lifting heavy boxes isn’t as easy anymore, talk to your doctor about getting tested for muscle weakness.
Reduced muscle function
If your muscles feel weak, experience a loss in muscle mass or have trouble performing regular activities, then you may be suffering from muscle weakness. The reason for these symptoms depends on what is causing your condition. Muscle weakness can be caused by age, injury or disease. Muscle weakness can also indicate several other conditions including cardiac insufficiency, cancer and diabetes.
Reduced strength
The most obvious sign that you have muscle weakness is that your muscles feel weak. This might seem obvious, but sometimes it’s easy to ignore your body’s feedback. If you’re lifting weights and suddenly notice your arms have become too fatigued to complete one more rep with good form, it’s a clear sign something is up.
You may even start compensating by shifting your weight onto another muscle group and/or motion as a means of getting through your workouts. The trouble with everyday tasks: Anytime you notice reduced strength in one or multiple muscle groups, make sure to keep an eye out for trouble with simple everyday tasks such as standing from sitting, or walking up stairs or hills.
Muscle wasting
A condition characterized by an increased likelihood of bone fragility and a decrease in bone mass, osteoporosis is a contributing factor to muscular weakness. The name Osteoporosis refers to fragile or thinning bones that make them more likely to fracture, especially in weight-bearing areas like the knees and hips. This disease can have awful consequences, causing both pain and disability at an early age. Approximately 80% of hip fractures happen to people under 75.
One out of every two women over 50 will suffer a broken bone because of osteoporosis. Many doctors recommend that everyone take 800 mg of calcium and extra vitamin D every day as prevention since it’s harder to get calcium in your diet now than it was when our grandparents were alive.
Muscle tenderness and pain
When your muscles are weak, they often start to ache, tenderize and feel sore. This is especially true if you’re training hard or working out with the poor form. You can also have muscle tenderness when you’re feeling under stress, cold or experiencing hormone fluctuations in your body. In general, it’s good to be aware of what kind of symptoms accompany weakness in your muscles.
Slowed movements due to decreased coordination
A sign of muscle weakness is a slowed movement due to decreased coordination, says Sandra Gordon, MD, professor of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. For example, if you try to write your name and it looks like you’re scribbling lines or your words become slurred when you speak (also called dysarthria), that could be a sign of motor weakness.
Decreased sensation: When sensory pathways in your brain and spinal cord aren’t working properly, you may not be able to feel sensations as well as normal. For example, if your hand touches something hot and pain doesn’t register or you can’t tell how hard you’re pressing on something when typing.
Fatigue
One of the most common signs of muscle weakness is fatigue. When you have weak muscles, it can be hard to perform even daily tasks. Simple activities like walking, for example, may tire your muscles out and make them feel weak.
On top of that, fatigue will also compromise your ability to recover from exercise—you may be too tired to get in a good workout if you’re experiencing fatigue in certain areas. This can lead to being less active over time and gaining weight as a result.
Conclusion
When muscles weaken, they have a harder time supporting their body weight. This results in pain and injuries. However, muscle weakness can also be a sign of serious underlying conditions such as cancer or heart disease. If you experience muscle weakness, see your doctor for an examination to ensure that your health is not in danger.
In addition to getting immediate medical attention for any injuries, you may have suffered from weak muscles, work with your physician to determine why you’re experiencing muscle weakness so that you can prevent further injury or complications.
