It’s clear muscle health matters more than most people realise.

The loss of muscle mass, strength, and function—also known as sarcopenia—leads to a vicious cycle that affects everything from mobility to independence.

And yet, many people won’t even consider taking action unless their doctor tells them to.

That’s why clinicians are key gatekeepers to better muscle health.

So then, how well do Australian clinicians really understand sarcopenia and its impact?

We decided to find out by surveying 1,364 Australian GPs and nurses.

And the findings—now published in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics—might surprise you.

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Awareness is high, but understanding is low.

Most clinicians know sarcopenia involves muscle loss.

But only 16% of them correctly identified all the diagnostic criteria for this condition.

More troubling was over 1 in 3 clinicians confused it with low general physical fitness.

This gap between awareness and understanding means many patients may not be diagnosed or treated effectively—simply because clinicians aren’t fully equipped to identify or manage the condition.

Given sarcopenia is often underdiagnosed, this lack of clarity may be a key reason why effective treatments aren’t being implemented, either.

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Knowledge gaps persist about treatment.

When it comes to addressing sarcopenia, we saw a common theme:

Gaps in knowledge.

The good news is most clinicians (82.3% to 99.7%) knew resistance training and high-protein diets can help prevent or slow muscle loss.

But only 9–12% of them correctly ruled out aerobic exercise or eating more fruits and vegetables as effective treatments.

This is in stark contrast to what the research actually supports, which is that:

• Resistance training is the primary treatment for sarcopenia
• Aerobic exercise or more fruit/veg don't really move the needle

Here’s what this suggests:

There’s a disconnect between what’s scientifically proven to help and what clinicians believe to be effective.

And this needs to change, especially since many patients are still receiving outdated advice.

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Screening is rare, even for high-risk groups.

Did you know only 23% of clinicians actively screen their patients for sarcopenia?

Even more concerning is just 6% are screening adults under 60, even though muscle loss can start in our 30s—much earlier than most realise.

This is in stark contrast to a 2022 study in Asia, where 42–43% of healthcare professionals reported screening for sarcopenia.

Given these differences, it’s clear screening for sarcopenia isn’t a priority in most Australian healthcare settings.

And that’s a real problem.

Because earlier diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for patients—and prevent the kind of severe muscle loss that leads to frailty and other health issues later in life.

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Clinicians care—but feel underprepared.

Here’s the good news:

More than 80% of clinicians believe it is their responsibility to manage sarcopenia.

But what’s concerning is less than 25% feel they have the knowledge or resources to actually act on that responsibility.

So what’s holding them back?

Perhaps not surprisingly, time, confidence, and clinical priorities are the biggest barriers.

Many clinicians just don’t have the tools or training they need to effectively address sarcopenia in their patients.

With competing health issues taking precedence, sarcopenia often gets pushed aside—despite its significant impact on patient health and quality of life.

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Clinicians want more support.

The good news is that most clinicians want more support.

Nearly 95% expressed a need for better training, clearer protocols, and improved referral pathways to help manage muscle health in their patients.

So, this means:

If we want to see real change, we need to ensure clinicians are equipped with the knowledge, time, and resources to take action.

This could mean structured, targeted training, standardised referral pathways, and better tools for screening.

Perhaps another avenue for change is to help more clinicians lead by example.

Why?

Because when doctors themselves are physically active, they’re far more likely to recommend physical activity to their patients.

A 2023 study found active doctors consult on physical activity in 73% of their consultations, while inactive doctors only do so 34% of the time.

Despite this, doctors reported limited technical knowledge of physical activity as a key barrier in recommending it to their patients.

This gap highlights the importance of not only promoting physical activity for patients—but also ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and empowered to lead by example.

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A call to action

Our first nationwide survey reveals a key truth:

Clinicians are ready to lead the charge on muscle health—they just need the support to do so.

It shouldn’t take a sarcopenia diagnosis for someone to take action on their muscle health.

But the harsh reality is most people won’t act unless told to by their doctor.

That’s why we need to ensure clinicians have the training and tools they need to start these important conversations with their patients.

Let’s make sure clinicians—and their patients—are empowered to take the lead on muscle health.

Because sarcopenia isn’t just about muscle loss.

It’s about quality of life, independence, and the ability to keep doing the things that matter most.

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As always, thanks for being here.

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Until next week,

Jackson

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PS: Which part resonated with you most?

Hit reply and let me know — I’d love to hear from you.

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IMPORTANT:

The information contained herein is of general nature only and does not constitute personal advice. You should not act on any information without considering your personal needs, circumstances, and objectives. Any exercise program may result in injury. We recommend you obtain advice specific to your circumstances from an appropriate health professional before starting any exercise program.