---
title: What is age related muscle loss and are you affected?
description: Discover how age-related muscle loss, or sarcopenia, impacts your strength and mobility as you age. Learn about early signs and effective prevention strategies.
---

[Blog - WA Health Group ](https://wahealthgroup.com.au/blog)

# [What is age related muscle loss and are you affected?](https://wahealthgroup.com.au/blog/what-is-age-related-muscle-loss-and-are-you-affected)

 Written by [Brody Kilbey](https://wahealthgroup.com.au/blog/author/brody-kilbey) | 15 June 2026

## **Am I losing Muscle as I age?**

- Sarcopenia is the medical term for gradual loss of muscle mass and strength that happens with ageing, and it can affect how well someone moves, balances, and manages daily tasks.
- While some muscle loss is a natural part of ageing, too much can make it harder to get out of a chair, carry groceries, walk confidently, or stay independent.
- Research shows that muscle mass starts to decline from around age 30, with losses of about 3–5% per decade, which helps explain why strength can feel different over time.

## **Why muscle loss matters**

- Many people think feeling weaker is “just ageing,” but sarcopenia is linked with reduced strength, slower movement, falls, frailty, disability, and loss of independence in older adults.
- The National Institute of Health reports that weaker grip strength and slower walking speed are associated with a higher risk of falls, mobility problems, hip fracture, and death in adults aged 65 and over.
- That means age-related muscle loss is not only about fitness — it is also about confidence, function, and staying capable in everyday life.

## **Early signs to watch for**

- Early signs can include feeling weaker than you used to, moving more slowly, finding stairs harder, needing your hands to stand from a chair, or feeling less steady when walking.
- Some people also notice they’ve become less active because movement feels harder, and that drop in activity can further contribute to muscle loss over time.
- If you have had recent near-falls, reduced endurance, or a noticeable drop in confidence with movement, it is worth having that assessed.

## **What helps**

- The good news is that sarcopenia can often be slowed or even improved with the right plan, especially through resistance training and adequate protein intake.
- Resistance training or lifting weights is extremely important for building strength and managing age-related muscle loss.
- A tailored exercise program matters because the safest and most effective starting point depends on your current strength, injuries, pain levels, and medical history.

## **What you can do today**

- If you have noticed a drop in strength, balance, or mobility, an assessment with an accredited exercise physiologist can help determine whether age-related muscle loss is contributing and what to do next.
- At WA Health Group we offer free 15-minute health discussions both face to face and over telehealth where we can discuss if a full assessment may be appropriate for you.

 

Book in for a free complimentary health discussion [HERE](https://wahealthgroup.com.au/10-mins-complimentary-discussion?hsCtaAttrib=116995208657)

 

References

1. Sayer AA, Cruz-Jentoft A. Sarcopenia definition, diagnosis and treatment: consensus is growing. Age Ageing. 2022 Oct 6;51(10):afac220. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afac220. PMID: 36273495; PMCID: PMC9588427.
2. Ardeljan AD, Hurezeanu R. Sarcopenia. [Updated 2023 Jul 4]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560813/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560813/)

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