Exercise to Reduce Muscle Loss and Inflammation

Exercise to Reduce Muscle Loss and Inflammation
If inflammation is a major cause of muscle loss, treatment should include exercise. Mladen Zivkovic/Shutterstock
Updated:

Women and men who exercise regularly have larger and stronger hearts, and greater endurance and strength, than those who do not exercise regularly [1]. Their muscles are stronger and more coordinated [2]. We can all expect to become weaker as we age, but you can markedly delay this inevitable loss of muscle strength by having a regular exercise program and following the same anti-inflammatory lifestyle rules that are recommended to help prevent heart attacks [3], cancers [4], and many other diseases.

Older people who suffer from severe loss of muscles (called sarcopenia) are far more likely to have high levels of the markers of inflammation, measured with blood tests such as CRP, SED rate and adiponectin [5] . Sarcopenia is found in other conditions associated with chronic inflammation, including:

Gabe Mirkin
Gabe Mirkin
Author
Sports medicine doctor, fitness guru and long-time radio host Gabe Mirkin, M.D. brings you news and tips for your healthful lifestyle. A practicing physician for more than 50 years and a radio talk show host for 25 years, Dr. Mirkin is a graduate of Harvard University and Baylor University College of Medicine. He is one of a very few doctors board-certified in four specialties: Sports Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics and Pediatric Immunology.
Related Topics