What is the loss of muscle mass due to disuse, nerve damage, or a disease process?

Muscle atrophy, or muscle wasting, is a loss of muscle mass due to disuse, nerve damage, or a disease process. Disuse atrophy may be due to pain or decreased activity. Nerve damage can cause neurogenic muscle atrophy. Some disease processes cause a body wasting syndrome known as cachexia. It is usually chronic diseases, for example AIDS, Muscular Dystrophy, and cancer that causes cachexia. As long as massage is not contraindicated by a specific disease process or other current treatment, massage and exercises can benefit the client with muscle atrophy.