Sarcopenia
What is sarcopenia?
According to the Hong Kong Department of Health
- Muscle mass reaches maximum level at age of 20–30, then gradually decreases (4.7% decrease: male; 3.7% decrease: female)
- Muscle strength decreases faster every 10 years (14.5% decrease: male; 11.8% decrease: female)
- Aged >70 vs young adults loss in muscle mass (45%: male; 37%: female)
Is sarcopenia common?
According to Hong Kong government statistics, 29.4% of the population were over the age 60 (i.e. 2,100,000 people out of a population of 7,291,600), and of those around 200,000–300,000 may have sarcopenia.
How does sarcopenia affect your life?
Skeletal muscle loss occurs with aging, with an increase in fat content.
Why do I have kyphosis and become shorter?
A loss of or weakened trunk muscle is one of the main reasons. These include the semispinalis capitis and splenius capitis of the neck, and longissimus dorsi, iliocostalis and latissimus dorsi of the back. This is why it is so important to train these muscles.
