Question

I am in my mid sixties and have had moderate ME/CFS for about 20 years. Over the past year I’ve noticed a slow but steady decline in the muscle strength in my thigh muscles. This has reduced the distance I can comfortably walk and some difficulty in climbing stairs.

My GP was very good and in addition to doing a physical examination checked some blood tests – all of which were normal. He has told me that I probably have something called sarcopenia and that ME/CFS is exacerbating what can be a natural consequence of ageing.

My question is whether most people over the age of 60 who have ME/CFS are likely to experience a similar decline in muscle strength and whether there is anything that can be done to help.

Answer

That's a very good question because I suspect that most people with ME/CFS have never even heard of sarcopenia. Yet it's something that can certainly play an important role in how people with ME/CFS are able to cope with physical functioning as they grow older, especially after the age of 60.

In very simple terms, sarcopenia refers to what can be the loss of muscle mass and strength as we grow older. This can lead to weakness in performing everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, rising from a chair and problems with balance, leading to falls.

Some degree of sarcopenia is a natural part of the ageing process. However, the effects are likely to occur earlier and be more significant in people who have a long-term disabling health condition such as ME/CFS, especially when this results in a significant and long-term reduction in activity levels. It is also likely to be made worse if you are overweight or on a diet that is deficient in good-quality protein.

Unfortunately, there's no simple solution to this decrease in muscle strength as we grow older. For people who are otherwise in good health regular exercise and balance-training exercises are recommended but this is obviously going to be difficult or impossible for people with ME/CFS. A healthy diet can help, especially making sure it contains good-quality protein.

I would add that many people with ME/CFS, especially those who are housebound and not able to get much exposure to sunlight, are at risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency can cause muscle pain and weakness, especially in the lower limbs. So it is advisable to take a low-dose daily vitamin D supplement – which can be obtained from any pharmacy.

See Also: Growing old with ME