Connect
Wasting Leg Muscle
The calf muscle on my right leg is not responding to weight training and is smaller than the muscle on my left leg. My trainer says the inner side of the muscle is not firing as it should. Can somebody please give me some advice on how to deal with this problem.
Some backround:-
I'm a 78 year old male; when I was 11 years old I had an accident on my bike that resulted in brain surgey to remove a blood clot on my brain which resulted in temporary paralysis of my right side; there was no follow up physio and I have walked with a limp ever since.
As I age my mobility gets worse and the wasting of this calf muscle does not help.
Regards,
Spike
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.
Connect
Welcome Spike @jake78, I'm a year older and have the same concerns about my mobility getting worse as I age. I don't do any real weight training but have been told that's the best way for increasing muscle mass. I mostly do daily time on a cross-fit trainer exercise bike plus a little walking and snow shoveling this time of year 🙂
I did read an article that talks about diagnosing and treating muscle atrophy that might have some helpful suggestions.
-- Muscle Atrophy: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis:
https://www.healthline.com/health/muscle-atrophy
You mentioned you've walked with a limp ever since a bike accident when you were 11 years old. , @sueinmn shared a post about gait problems that might be something to have checked — https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/635851/.
Have you ever had your gait checked?
Thank you John,
Your information gives me a lot to think about and to folow up on. I have had my gait checked and do some specific exercises to improve it. I see a physiotherapist monthly and will revisit the gait problem specifically. However, the weakness because of the wasting muscle has led us to concentrate more on balance exercises and fall prevention.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi Spike, I'm glad they have checked your gait. Muscle wasting is an unfortunate aftereffect of injuries in early life.
I have a friend here who has that issue after a long-ago broken ankle. He now wears an ankle brace and uses a cane for stability. I know we never want to admit it might be necessary, but...perhaps better than broken bones.
Another question to ask the physio is whether nerve/muscle stimulation might "wake things up." It's great that you are persisting - nobody wants to watch life from the sidelines.
Sue
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 ReactionsHi Sue,
Thank you for this. Yes they have tried electrical stimulation.
As you suggest I will think hard about using a cane.
Spike,
this could be for many different reasons. both legs for me have very little response in the calf area do to stenosis in my lumbar region. get it checked out by your primary physician or if you have a relationship with a neurologist.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionMore PT????
I have quite a well equiped gym in my basement and see a trainer (PT?) twice a week and in addition do my own weight bearing exercise on this leg.