SkeletalMuscleDisuseAtrophyandthe RehabilitativeRoleofProteininRecoveryfrom MusculoskeletalInjury

Abstract

Muscle atrophy and weakness occur as a consequence of disuse after musculoskeletal injury (MSI). The slow recovery and persistence of these deficits even after physical rehabilitation efforts indicate that interventions designed to attenuate muscle atrophy and protect muscle function are necessary to accelerate and optimize recovery from MSI. Evidence suggests that manipulating protein intake via dietary protein or free amino acid–based supplementation diminishes muscle atrophy and/or preserves muscle function in experimental models of disuse (i.e., immobilization andbedrestinhealthypopulations).However,thisconcepthasrarelybeenconsideredinthecontextofdisusefollowingMSI,whichoftenoccurs withsomemuscleactivationduringpostinjuryphysicalrehabilitation.Giventhatexercisesensitizesskeletalmuscletotheanaboliceffectofprotein ingestion,earlyrehabilitationmayactsynergisticallywithdietaryproteintoprotectmusclemassandfunctionduringpostinjurydisuseconditions. Thisnarrativereviewexploresmechanismsofskeletalmuscledisuseatrophyandrecentadvancesdelineatingtheroleofproteinintakeasapotential countermeasure. The possible synergistic effect of protein-based interventions and postinjury rehabilitation in attenuating muscle atrophy and weaknessfollowingMSIisalsoconsidered