Deconditioning

Major trauma, sepsis, or surgery lead to the breakdown of skeletal muscle in order to provide nitrogen and amino acids essential to immune function and tissue repair. While this response can be ultimately beneficial, the resultant loss of muscle mass and strength may impede recovery of normal function after surgery. This is particularly likely if breakdown of muscle is compounded by unnecessary immobilization (as often happens in a hospital) or if prior deconditioning has led to preexisting muscle weakness and a smaller reserve of muscle for consumption.