Ronald Michalak, MD FAAOS MS CSCS

Potentiapenia: The Unnamed Enemy of Aging.

It is well known that older individuals experience multifaceted muscular declines with aging. This includes declines in muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle power. These three represent related but separate and distinct qualities. These three qualities can all be trained and improved in older adults, but training specificity demands different approaches depending upon which of these qualities is being targeted.

Loss of muscle mass has been termed sarcopenia. Loss of muscle strength has been termed dynapenia. Loss of muscle power has been shown to be the most important of these three qualities as well as the most useful predictor of injury risk and functional independence in older adults but does not yet have a name.

Power training specifically to address this deficit in muscle power has been shown to be safe and effective in older adults. However, unfortunately, loss of muscle power has not been given adequate attention, especially in clinical practice. This is possibly because it does not yet have a name.

The purpose of this publication is to propose the name potentiapenia for the loss of muscle power. A name may draw attention to this critical issue, facilitate academic discourse, as well as to encourage practitioners to focus treatment interventions specifically on improving muscle power in older adults.

Proposed operational definitions:
• Sarcopenia: Loss of muscle mass
• Dynapenia: Loss of muscular strength
• Potentiapenia: Loss of muscular power

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About Ron Michalak, MD

About
Dr. Michalak is a board-certified Surgeon comprehensively trained in orthopaedic procedures who has been serving New Hampshire patients for over 20 years. His expertise includes joint replacement, arthroscopy, trauma and fracture care, tendonitis procedures, reconstruction of instabilities in the joints, nerve surgery, and procedures of the hand/wrist. He considers surgery as a serious step in treating orthopaedic conditions, so he listens carefully and works with each patient and the entire care team to fully assess and address unique needs, while striving to be minimally invasive whenever possible.

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY
Hip Replacement (Anterior Approach)
Total Knee Replacement
CT-guided Customized Knee Replacement
Partial Knee Replacement
Arthroscopy
Rotator Cuff Repairs
ACL Reconstruction
Acute Tendon Repair
Tendonitis Surgery
Stabilization and Fracture Fixation of Metastatic Bone Tumors
Trauma and Fracture Care
Pediatric Fracture Care
Carpal Tunnel Release
Ulnar Nerve Decompression
Trigger Finger Release
Thumb Arthritis Reconstruction
Ganglion/ Soft Tissue Mass Surgery

SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR CONDITIONS INCLUDING:
Degenerative Joint Disease
General Orthopedic Conditions
Repetitive Use Injuries
Soft Tissue – Masses, Cysts, Ganglia
Operative and Nonoperative Fracture Care

SPECTRUM OF TREATMENT OPTIONS
Ancillary/ Complimentary
Therapy Guidance
Bracing, Splinting and Casting
Diagnostic Joint Aspirations and Therapeutic Injections
Onsite Radiographic Imaging
Physical Therapy Referrals and Physician-directed Rehabilitation

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