President Trump twisted on the stairs...Is it because of this disease?
Jun 24, 2025
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◇ Decreased muscle mass from 40s to 50s...falling, poor quality of life, etc
A condition in which muscle mass decreases with age or muscle strength and physical function are pathologically deteriorated is called sarcopenia. In general, muscle mass and physical function begin to decrease in the 40s and 50s, and without special care, it worsens faster over time.
Although sarcopenia is also considered to be a simple part of aging, it needs to be viewed as a major health problem because it can lead to falls, movement constraints, poor quality of life, and functional impairment. Sarcopenia, which was also recognized as a disease worldwide, was included in the 8th amendment to the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD) in 2021.
The cause varies from individual to individual, but it is caused by a combination of various factors. It can occur as the ability to maintain muscles naturally decreases due to aging, or as physical activity decreases, muscles gradually decrease. In addition, chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease can cause and worsen sarcopenia. Lack of protein intake or lack of nutrients such as vitamin D may also promote sarcopenia.
◇Improvement of exercise and lifestyle is important...Must eat high-quality protein
Many studies related to sarcopenia are underway, but nothing has yet been clearly identified as a treatment. Recognition of pathophysiology and disease should be prioritized for treatment, and for now, prevention and management of ▲ exercise ▲ nutrition management ▲ lifestyle improvement may be the most important treatment.
Exercise is a very important factor in the management of sarcopenia. It is essential to steadily strengthen muscles through resistance (muscle strength) exercises using dumbbells or resistance bands. Aerobic exercise, which strengthens cardiopulmonary functions such as walking, swimming, and cycling, also helps to improve physical strength along with maintaining muscle strength. Stretching, yoga, and tai chi, which increase balance and flexibility, are also recommended to prevent falls.
In terms of nutritional management, 1.2 to 1.5 g of protein per kg is essential for every meal, including meat, fish, tofu, eggs, and legumes, to maintain and grow muscles. The abundant antioxidants in fruits and vegetables also help reduce inflammation and prevent muscle damage. In addition, vitamin D plays an essential role in maintaining muscle function and bone health, so you should eat vitamin D-rich foods and get plenty of sun.
Improving lifestyle habits is also one of the ways to prevent sarcopenia. Both overweight and underweight can worsen sarcopenia, so you should maintain an appropriate weight. Smoking and excessive drinking can accelerate muscle loss, so it is desirable to avoid it.
Professor Kim Yoon-ji of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital said, `It is important to maintain muscles from a young age through strength training and proper nutrition management, and to continue steady physical activity even when you get older.'"Early diagnosis and active management of sarcopenia in particular can be of great help in improving the quality of life in old age."," he stressed.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
