Now that you’re aware of the possibility that muscle aches and weakness might be part of a more serious condition, here are some signs to look out for if you are concerned about sarcopenia. Symptoms include: falling, muscle weakness, slower walking speeds, and difficulties overall in completing everyday tasks and activities. Do your muscles feel sore after lifting a bag of groceries? Yeah, consider that a sign that your muscles are weakening. This condition mostly affects older adults, so don’t worry too much if you’re on the younger end of the spectrum and frequently partake in physical activity that keep your muscles moving. As with most medical conditions, there are many contributors to sarcopenia that, according to a National Institute of Health (NIH) study, might include environmental factors, disease, nutrition, low levels of physical activity, hormonal changes, and changes in molecular structure that come with older age.

The older you get, the more you are at risk for experiencing muscle weakness and possibly receiving a sarcopenia diagnosis. This is why it’s important to create healthy habits early, such as resistance training, and take preventative measures early on even if you may not experience any concerning signs of the condition. Women should know that they are more likely to experience a rapid decline in skeletal muscle mass than men due to the interaction of cells within the muscle fibers. So, while everyone should take steps to build and maintain muscle mass as they age, this is especially true for women who are already predisposed to suffer from a deterioration in muscle mass and bone density. It’s never too late to start training, as healthy habits can be started at any age to ensure improved muscle health.