Atrophy of the muscles of the legs. Treatment, medications, ointments

For a person, movement means life. Signs of wasting muscle tissue with a gradual decrease in its volume indicate the onset of the atrophy process, which more often affects the muscles of the legs. A decrease in the activity of blood flow leads to a deterioration in the nutrition of the limbs, which over time turns into the death of the muscles, the replacement of muscle fibers with connective tissue.

Although the phenomenon of degeneration (dystrophy) is considered a long process, the lack of timely treatment threatens with loss of motor activity, up to the immobilization of the affected limbs.

Treatment of leg muscle atrophy with drugs

There are many factors that can provoke the development of a pathological condition. In most cases, muscular dystrophy is observed in elderly people, which is explained by biological aging of the body. The natural process of wear and tear of muscle fibers is the result of a slowdown in metabolism (metabolism in muscles), a decrease in physical activity.

The group of other risk factors leading to muscle degeneration can be roughly divided into two categories corresponding to the types of muscle atrophy:

Causes (type of disease)	Peculiarities
Pathologies of the hereditary-degenerative type (primary atrophy)	The pathological condition is due to the presence of genetic defects that affect the muscles themselves or their nerve fibers. A rapidly progressive and difficult to treat leg disease begins in childhood.
Dystrophic lesions of motor neurons or peripheral nerve trunks (secondary atrophy)	The causes of dystrophy are injuries, as well as a number of diseases leading to muscle wasting under the influence of external damaging influences (stroke, tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, arthrosis). Before treating atrophy, it is necessary to treat the provoking disease.

Excessive loads (moral and physical), lack of normal nutrition due to starvation or a sedentary lifestyle, the presence of malignant tumors can lead to a drop in muscle tone. The cause of the death of the muscle tissue of the lower extremities is prolonged immobilization due to illness or injury to the nerve trunks, the abuse of alcoholic beverages. The lesion can affect various muscles of the legs (thigh, calf, foot).

The treatment process is particularly complex, since it is a complex of various therapeutic measures, individual for each patient:

• The drug therapy regimen includes the intake of muscle relaxants, which help to relax the leg muscles. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) will help reduce inflammation and the strength of the pain syndrome.
• The doctor selects the complex of exercises for therapeutic gymnastics individually, focusing on the patient's condition at this stage. If the disease is started, exercise is started under the supervision of a health worker.
• Massage procedures are necessary to improve the nutrition of myofibers, stimulate the functioning of the lymphatic system, and improve blood flow. Massage is able to stop the progress of dystrophy, which leads to a decrease in the severity of atrophy.
• Thanks to various physiotherapy methods, the muscles of the lower extremities restore normal tone. As a result, the motor activity of the lower extremities is gradually improving.

Leg muscle atrophy, which begins with a diagnosis of the underlying cause, is not always caused by lack of movement. Often, the launch of the degenerative process becomes a consequence of hormonal disruptions, manifestations of genetic diseases, damage to the nerve channels.

The negative effect of constant overstrain of myofibers during labor or physical activity is also not excluded. Against the background of a passive lifestyle and the lack of treatment of the original cause, it will not be possible to eliminate muscle atrophy.

Drug therapy

Both the primary and secondary types of muscle pathology are distinguished by a variety of forms, but with the presence of atrophies common to all signs - reduced volume of the affected leg muscles, movement defect of varying degrees, soreness of the toes during palpation.

To restore microcirculatory processes and improve the blood supply to peripheral vessels, various types of drugs are prescribed:

• Muscle relaxants. Medicines (Baklosan, Mydocalm, Tizalud) are necessary to relax the constrained voluntary muscles, relieve the syndrome of numbness of the legs. Peripheral agents are also designed to stop the signal from the nerve to the muscle fibers, which allows you to relax the muscles, relieve pain and spasm.

  

• NSAIDs. Thanks to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Celecoxib), it is possible block severe pain, but gastrointestinal toxicity should not be forgotten medicines. Therefore, non-steroids are taken strictly according to the doctor's prescription and in short courses.
• Angioprotectors. The group of drugs (Trental, Curantil, Pentoxifylline) is designed to strengthen the vessels of the lower extremities, normalize vascular tone, improve the permeability of the vessel walls. Angioprotectors also have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, eliminate spasms, and prevent leg swelling.
• Antispasmodics. Drugs (No-Shpa, Mebeverin, Papaverine) have an antispasmodic effect, relieving muscles from physiological or pathological contraction. Medicines improve the blood supply to the myofibers in the spasmodic area in order to protect them from the development of degenerative changes.
• Leg muscle atrophy (treatment may include different methods) is eliminated with vitamins. Preparations (Milgamma, Pyridoxine, Thiamine) containing elements of group B help to improve the functioning of the muscular system, accelerate the recovery of damaged muscles and nerves. As a result, the metabolism improves, the normal impulse conduction is restored.
• Biostimulants. Stimulating agents (Actovegin, Plazmol, Aloe) enhance muscle regeneration by connecting the reserve forces of the patient's body.

The main task of drug treatment is to normalize the metabolism in the muscle fibers affected by atrophy by increasing blood flow against the background of replenishing the deficiency of important vitamins. Before treating any type of pathology, it is important to identify and cure the underlying disease that gave impetus to the development of degeneration of myofibers of the legs.

If muscle wasting is caused by irreversible processes (myopathy, amyotrophy), proper therapy can slow down the progress of degeneration. Simple atrophies (due to trauma, poisoning, starvation) are considered reversible only if therapy is started in a timely manner.

Local treatment

For external exposure, they use ointments that enhance the effectiveness of the main medicines. The gel form of drugs applied to the site of muscle damage allows you to quickly relieve inflammation and relieve severe pain.

For muscular atrophy, the following types of ointments are used:

Name	Brief information about the drug
Diclofenac	The most popular drug contains different dosages of diclofenac sodium. The action of the active substance (NSAID) demonstrates a pronounced analgesic effect, quickly relieves inflammation in the muscles and traces of puffiness.
Nimesulide	The active ingredient nimesulide (NSAIDs) effectively relieves pain, but only at the site of application. The medicine does not require a bandage, quickly relieves of stiffness of movements, the consequences of muscle stretching as a result of heavy physical exertion.
Ketoprofen	The main advantage of NSAIDs is the delivery of the active substance directly to the site of damage to tissues, muscles, joints. The application of the gel lowers the temperature, and applications can be used to enhance the anti-inflammatory effect.
Apisatron	The ointment of the combined composition, made on the basis of bee venom, relieves pain syndrome with mild lesions of muscle fibers. To enhance the therapeutic effect, it is recommended to keep the area treated with the drug warm.
Viprosal	Atrophy affecting the muscles of the legs requires complex therapy. If the process develops slowly, treatment with tablets is supplemented with the use of a local irritating ointment. Due to the action of the viper venom, the vessels expand at the site of application of the ointment, improving the trophism of tissue structures.
Finalgon	The gel, which contains two active components (nonivamide and nicoboxil), irritates the skin over the treated area, warming up the skin. As a result of increased local blood flow, the remedy relieves muscle pain and spasms within 30 minutes.
Finalgel	The main active ingredient is piroxicam (NSAIDs), therefore the external agent has all the properties of non-steroids. From pain, inflammation, swelling, applications with a gel, the radius of action of which increases, are more quickly relieved.

Traumeel gel is one of the most powerful homeopathic ointments, the composition of which contains a number of natural active ingredients. The drug effectively relieves inflammation after injury, helps to slow down dystrophic processes in the onset of atrophy of muscle fibers. A homeopathic remedy, practically free of side effects, enhances the medicinal effect of the main drugs of the complex treatment regimen.

Manual therapy

Today, manual therapy techniques are considered an officially recognized WHO technique, one of the directions which is based on a deep study of the muscle tissue of the legs with the hands together with the subcutaneous fat fiber. The procedures help restore muscle performance and relieve pain, strengthen the muscle corset at the initial stage of the atrophic process.

For almost 150 years of development, doctors have developed unique techniques. To enhance muscle tone, relieve pain, swelling and spasms in the lower extremities, specialists use only soft techniques. By means of mechanical action without sudden movements on the soft tissues with the hands (kneading, stretching, tapping) it is possible to return some mobility to the muscles so that they do not atrophy finally.

The main task of manual therapy is to stimulate the patient's body to activate its own defenses. Unlike conventional massage, the complex of manual procedures allows the patient to cope with the problem on their own if the treatment is started on time.

Massotherapy

Atrophy of the leg muscles, the treatment of which is a long process, can be caused by various reasons, but is accompanied by a gradual thinning of muscle fibers. In order to prevent their complete disappearance and a sharp decrease in motor activity, drug therapy is combined with massage procedures.

The massage is aimed at improving microcirculatory processes, as well as impulse conduction in myofibers. Massaging with kneading and vibration techniques begins from the peripheral zone of the limbs with a gradual movement down the gluteal zone, selectively along the calves and quadriceps muscles. General massage is no less effective.

The benefits of exercise therapy

The task of remedial gymnastics is to resume the functioning of muscles, to restore their tissue volume. The exercises are first done lying down, then they continue sitting, but the loads should be gradual. Despite signs of muscle fatigue, an increase in heart rate occurs, leading to increased blood flow. However, with the onset of muscle soreness, the load must be reduced.

When choosing gymnastic exercises, it is important that weakened muscles are included in the movement process. Plugging in healthy muscle structures can result in improper movement patterns and damage to other muscles and joints. Therefore, for the isolated inclusion of muscles, exercises are selected and dosed strictly individually.

Physiotherapy

During the long course of the disease, the dead fibers are replaced by fibrous-adipose tissue, which greatly complicates the work of the muscles, causing them to be sore.

The action of physiotherapy is aimed at resorption of the formed scar tissue, increasing the volume of movement by using the following techniques:

• Electrophoresis with the use of proteolytics (enzyme preparations) helps well with the resorption of the structure damaged by fibrosis. Electrophoresis does not affect healthy tissue.
• The method of electrical stimulation of atrophied muscles involves exposure to low-frequency currents in the affected area. A painless procedure is necessary to stimulate regeneration processes, contraction of myofibers.
• Thanks to the action of magnetotherapy using a low-frequency magnetic field, metabolic processes are improved, blood circulation is enhanced. Treatment is accompanied by the disappearance of edema, pain, inflammation.

Atrophy of the muscles of the legs (treatment with non-drug methods) is a consequence of muscle wasting, can develop in both irreversible and reversible forms. If therapy is started on time, the chances of full recovery increase markedly.

To restore fibers prone to simple atrophy, wrapping the legs with bile of natural composition is considered an equally effective technique. The local irritating drug helps to improve muscle trophism, relieve pain, relieve inflammation and reduce swelling due to warming the affected area.

Reflexology

The ancient method of treatment is based on exposure to medical acupuncture needles (acupuncture) or finger pressure (acupressure) at the location of biologically active points on the body the patient.

Positive aspects of non-drug treatment include:

• normalization of the innervation process, restoring working capacity to the muscles affected by degeneration;
• activation of the body's reserve capabilities due to an extensive network of nerve endings that received a triggering impulse;
• restoration of energy metabolism at the cellular as well as neural level by changing the direction of the energy flow.

Among the advantages of reflexology are relative painlessness, complete safety, absence of contraindications and side effects. Already after the first session, patients with atrophy feel the disappearance of pain in the muscles, and the duration of the therapeutic effect can last for about 3 days. However, in the case of severe pathological conditions, reflexology is not used.

Role of diet

The complex treatment of muscle atrophy of the lower extremities includes the development of a proper nutrition scheme. To ensure a complete diet, it should be enriched with plant and animal proteins, since they serve as a building material for muscle tissue. The amount of carbohydrates and animal fats should be limited due to the risk of developing an inflammatory process. Look for folic acid and / or take vitamin B12 supplements.

It is recommended to switch to the use of low-fat cottage cheese, fish and liver dishes, vegetables in sufficient volume. Animal meat should be replaced with soy meat, since animal protein increases acidity in the body, which negatively affects muscle mass. With malnutrition, without a variety of diets, muscle building cannot be achieved.

Orthopedic insoles

Osteochondrosis often becomes one of the causes of atrophic changes in the muscle tissue of the lower extremities. If the disease of the spine develops at the level of the lumbar spine, signs of degenerative-dystrophic changes spread to the articular structures of the legs. The appearance of pain and inflammation, as well as muscle spasm, is associated with pinching of the spinal roots, which leads to limited movement, curvature of the spine.

To prevent the development of edema and muscle atrophy of the foot, it is necessary to restore the natural mechanics of movement. To give the foot an anatomically correct position, the doctor prescribes the wearing of medical (orthopedic) insoles that normalize blood circulation in the legs. Corrective products with a shock-absorbing effect have a complex structure that protects the foot from deformation, helping to maintain the normal tone of the calf muscles.

Despite the variety of provoking reasons, atrophy of the calf and femoral muscles develops gradually, and pathological changes in the fibers can be seen in the arrhythmic gait of a person - high lap.

The defeat of the microfibers of the legs can be both unilateral and bilateral, but differs in the subsequent progression of symptoms. Therefore, treatment should be started already at the first symptoms of severity in the lower extremities during movement, contacting a specialist for help.

Video about leg muscle atrophy

Therapy video. Amyotrophy: