Patient: Mdm. M, 64 years old, senior citizen
Date: 1 March, 2022. First visit.
Chief complaint: Weakness in both legs and difficulty in walking for three weeks
On this day, Mdm. M’s daughter called the clinic early in the morning to schedule an appointment. She explained that her mother had difficulty in walking following a fall, her lower limbs were weak, and had been to the hospital where she was informed that it was an effect of ageing. She wanted to come to the clinic to see if acupuncture could help her mother’s condition.
Mdm. M and her children arrived at the scheduled appointment time, pushing Mdm. M in a wheelchair with their assistance. Mdm. M had a cheerful expression on her face and showed no signs of weariness from a protracted illness. I invited them into the consultation room then asked them about her. According to her children, she has been using crutches to walk independently for the past two months after stumbling and falling at home due to lower limb weakness. However, on 8 Feb, she fell again, this time more severely, and the family was forced to purchase a wheelchair for her to use.
【The Cause】
According to her children, she has been using crutches to walk independently for the past two months after stumbling and falling at home due to lower limb weakness. However, on 8 Feb, she fell again, this time more severely, and the family was forced to purchase a wheelchair for her to use.After her daughter’s explanation, I asked Mdm. M if she had symptoms of bitter mouth, bloating, poor sleep, and difficulty defecating, and discovered that she had a bitter mouth in the morning, had recently experienced obvious bloating after meals, as well as difficulty sleeping at night. Knowing her general condition, I asked her children to assist her into the treatment room.
【Examination and Treatment】
I directed Mdm. M to the treatment bed, examined her muscles, and discovered that both of her muscles were slightly atrophied, and the muscles on the back of her legs were tight from the thighs to the calves. I then let her stand up and try to take turns standing on one foot and supporting for about 5 seconds, which she couldn’t do because her left and right legs could only support for about 1-2 seconds before collapsing on the bed. I asked her to lie back down on the treatment bed and told her that I would first help her loosen the muscles in the back of her legs for her before prescribing some scientific Chinese medicine.
After relaxing her muscles, I asked her to stand up and walk around the treatment room on her own. In comparison to the one-legged stand test before treatment, she can now stand alone for 5 seconds but still requires the assistance of her daughter to walk in the room. I asked her children to keep an eye on her at home so she could practise walking every day and return next week for a check-up. They revealed that their mother had only stayed here for a short time and would be returning to her home in two weeks, and they asked if I could shorten the time of follow-up. I considered it and asked them to return in three days for a follow-up consultation.
Date: 3 March, 2022. Second visit.
Mdm. M showed up on time three days later. She was still using a wheelchair and was being pushed in by her daughter. As she entered the clinic, she told herself that she had been practising walking at home recently.After taking the medication, her appetite increased, postprandial bloating and dry mouth significantly improved, but her legs were still weak. I inspected her leg muscles again, and compared to the previous days, the stiff muscles were looser. So, I let her try standing alone for 5 seconds and discovered that she could stand for 3 seconds without assistance. Following a series of examinations, I asked her to slowly walk up to the treatment bed by herself. I then prescribed scientific Chinese medicine and applied acupuncture on her lower limbs and back. After the acupuncture, I reminded her children to keep an eye on her practise walking at home.
Date: 7 March, 2022. Third visit.
They returned three days later for a follow-up visit; she was still in a wheelchair and was pushed into the clinic, but once inside, she asked her daughter to assist her in walking slowly into the room. She told me that in the last few days, when she lay flat on the bed trying to get up, she had pain in her lower back and spasms in her lower muscles when it was cold, but that her other physical conditions had greatly improved. After hearing what she had to say, I examined her muscles and discovered that her waist muscles were indeed stiff. I then applied acupuncture and prescribed scientific Chinese medicine while loosening up her waist muscles.
Date: 10 March, 2022. Fourth visit.
Mdm. M stopped by for a follow-up consultation before departing for her trip back home. She used crutches to enter the office this time. Mdm. M is pleased that she is now able to walk independently. As long as she uses crutches, she can walk for a short distance, but after a long distance, she will become fatigued. I performed acupuncture on her waist and lower limbs once more, and then prescribed scientific Chinese medicine to her. Before she left, I advised her to continue walking at home and to eat more protein-rich foods. She stated that when she come to see her daughter later, she would visit again and ask me to check on her condition.
Date: 18 July, 2022. Fifth visit.
Mdm. M returned for a follow-up consultation after 4 months. She walked into the consultation room by herself this time, and despite being on crutches, she walked faster and steadier than before. When I inquired about her recent situation, she stated that she had begun walking every day after returning home, and that her legs were gradually no longer weak, allowing her to move freely.She uses crutches when she goes outside for fear of falling, her appetite and sleep are good, and she came to see me so I could see if her muscle strength has improved. I examined her muscles and discovered that her right leg muscles were only slightly tense, so I loosened them. After the treatment, I advised her to continue walking at home and to try to do some simple stretching exercises without putting too much strain on her body. Mdm. M agreed with a nod.
The risks of muscle weakness
If they don’t exercise regularly, ageing causes the elderly to gradually lose their muscle mass and bone density, making them more prone to body weakness, slower walking speed, and even an increased risk of falling. When the family’s elders exhibit these symptoms, take them to the doctor as soon as you can. On the other hand, ignorance will only make the condition worse, impairing their body’s balance and sensitivity. In addition, the elderly who have osteoporosis may even suffer fractures from falls, so this is a serious issue that should not be ignored.
Methods for preventing muscle weakness
- Keep up the exercise routine
You can better prevent the decline of muscle strength through appropriate exercise regardless of your age if you want to maintain the strength of your muscles. To maintain muscle strength, body balance, and sensitivity, as well as to ward off osteoporosis, middle-aged and elderly people need more exercise activities.
The best exercises for middle-aged and elderly people are jogging, swimming, standing on one foot, and brisk walking.
- Increase protein intake.
Protein is one of the most important nutrients for muscle growth. Inadequate protein intake can result in muscle loss, so include more protein-rich foods in your diet, such as eggs, soy products, milk, lean meats, salmon, and so on.
The morning is the best time of day for the body to absorb protein as foods containing protein take a while to digest, it is not advisable to eat at night, especially near bedtime
Learn more about TCM：https://vstcm.com/blogs/
Make Appointment：03-80111750
Visions TCM Website：https://vstcm.com/
Visions TCM FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/visionstcmhc/
此文章还有以下语言版本：
简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified))
