Loss of strength refers to a reduction in one's ability to exert force with their muscles. This can occur due to various reasons, both acute and chronic. Some key causes of loss of strength include:
Muscle atrophy - This is when muscles actively waste away due to disuse or disease. Atrophy leads to smaller, weaker muscles.
Nerve damage - Damage to the nerves that activate muscles can impair strength. This includes diseases like peripheral neuropathy and injuries like spinal cord trauma.
Arthritis - Inflammation within joints from arthritis can make movement painful and difficult, gradually reducing strength.
Aging - As we get older, there is often a natural decline in muscle mass and bone density. This frequently translates to reduced muscle strength and ease of injury.
How quickly does someone lose strength?
The rate of strength loss depends heavily on the underlying cause:
Disuse atrophy can onset rapidly - even a few days in a cast can start atrophying muscles. Prolonged bedrest escalates this further.
However, age-related declines may happen slowly over years/decades. Most adults lose some baseline muscle mass each year after age 30.
What are signs of decreasing strength?
There are a few key signs weakness is developing:
Struggling to open jars or grip objects
Difficulty standing up from chairs
Increased fatigue with physical tasks
Reduced muscle size/bulk noticeable in the arms or legs
The need to use momentum to assist movements
I hope these details on what loss of strength entails help provide some insight!