
Use it or Lose it…FAST!
We’ve got some jaw- dropping stats that’ll make you sit up and take notice (but don’t sit for too long!). When it comes to
muscle mass, it’s a case of “use it or lose it” for our
elderly folks.
Get this: in a meta-analysis of 49 studies involving older adults, it was found that just 5 months of resistance training (combined with proper nutrition) can pack on 1.1 kg (2.5 pounds) of pure muscle. Serious gains.
But here comes the scary part: studies reveal that in a mere 10 days of bed rest, you can kiss goodbye to a whopping 1 kg (2.3 pounds) of muscle mass. Yep, you read that right. It’s like undoing your activity level in the blink of an eye! Setting you up for further decline and risk of falling.
Patients, families, and the healthcare community need to be aware of these numbers. It’s not just a case of losing muscle if you don’t use it – it’s losing it at warp speed!
Avoid the dreaded bed rest/hospital stay whenever possible. Keep moving, and keep those muscles happy and healthy. After all, it takes months of blood, sweat, and tears to regain what’s lost in those 10 days of idleness.
Key Takeaways:
1. With proper nutrition and resistance training, even older adults can make significant gains.
2. Several days of bed-rest or in a hospital can take weeks or even months to recover from.
Check out our weekly podcast hosted by Brian Harmon, PT, MBA and Jo Alch, RN with Joy Care Management.

Nexus Home Healthcare developed a proactive clinical approach proven to:
Reduce hospitalizations
Improve senior health and quality of life
Reduce medical costs to families and insurance
Contact us to inquire about our results and/or how our approach helps meet the needs of your patients and families.
Nexushomehealthcare.com
Learn about special announcements, news and more!