Final answer:
Muscle atrophy is the reduction in muscle mass due to factors such as disease, disuse, or aging. Sarcopenia is a specific form of atrophy that happens with age, and physiotherapy can help in preventing or reducing atrophy through targeted exercises.
Step-by-step explanation:
The loss of muscle function due to muscle disease or a disease in the nervous system can lead to atrophy.
Atrophy is the process where muscle mass is reduced, often due to underuse or disuse. Conditions such as cancer, AIDS, and congestive heart failure can induce atrophy, as they often lead to a decrease in nutritional intake or cause the body to become catabolic, affecting muscle mass. Sarcopenia, age-related muscle atrophy, occurs as people grow older. Exercise is a crucial method for delaying sarcopenia and maintaining muscle strength and functionality.
Physiotherapists can be instrumental in preventing or reducing atrophy by prescribing targeted exercises that stimulate specific muscle groups vulnerable to atrophy due to inactivity, disease, or aging.