Sarcopenia causes decreased muscle strength and limited mobility, which can be improved through rehabilitation. (Shutterstock)
Text/Reporter Li Yumei
With age or due to chronic diseases such as diabetes and arthritis, muscle mass will decrease and “sarcopenia” will occur, resulting in decreased muscle strength, inconvenient movement, and even disability. Sarcopenia is often accompanied by dysphagia due to sarcopenia. According to doctors, both sarcopenia and dysphagia due to sarcopenia have the opportunity to achieve significant improvement after rehabilitation treatment.
Yang Huidai, Director of the Rehabilitation Department of Taipei United Hospital Yangming District, said that most sarcopenic patients will lose weight and have thinner legs, but some people who look obese are actually sarcopenic patients. It is because of muscle atrophy, replaced by adipose tissue accumulation, thus forming the so-called “sarcopenic obesity”.
Clinically, the detection of muscle mass, muscle strength, etc., can diagnose whether it is “sarcopenia”. People diagnosed with “sarcopenia” need to supplement proper nutrition, including adequate protein, calcium and vitamin D. At the same time, after continuous exercise rehabilitation treatment, most of them can enhance muscle strength and life function.
Yang Huidai mentioned that sarcopenia affects not only the skeletal muscles of the limbs, but also the muscle groups that control swallowing movements; due to the reduction in the mass of these muscle groups, there is not enough muscle strength to complete effective chewing, transporting and other swallowing Dysphagia will result in dysphagia, which is called “sarcopenic dysphagia”.
This difficulty in swallowing and subsequent malnutrition will worsen the lack of muscle mass in “sarcopenia”, forming a vicious circle.
Yang Huidai said that it is not uncommon for people over the age of 65 to experience “sarcopenia and dysphagia”. In addition to symptoms of dysphagia or coughing, hoarseness may also occur in severe cases.
For the treatment of “sarcopenic dysphagia”, physical and occupational therapy of the limbs, as well as individual swallowing rehabilitation training can be used to improve the muscular endurance and coordination of the skeletal muscles of the limbs and swallowing muscles, so as to strengthen swallowing skills, and depending on the situation Adjusting the texture of the food you eat and supplementing enough nutrients can improve your ability to swallow and eat, and avoid falling into the vicious circle of “sarcopenia” mentioned above.
Yang Huidai added that medical research has found that the proportion of people suffering from osteoporosis and sarcopenia is higher than that of the general population. Therefore, it is believed that osteoporosis and sarcopenia have a synergistic and comorbid relationship. When there are symptoms of suspected sarcopenia such as thin limbs and weakness, or accompanied by dysphagia, it is necessary to go to the hospital for relevant evaluation and testing.
Whether it is “sarcopenia” or “sarcopenia dysphagia”, there is an opportunity to make significant progress after rehabilitation treatment, and to live a quality silver-haired life. ◇
2023-06-27 16:02:16
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