1. 1
The potential to reverse age related skeletal muscle atrophy and sarcopenia
improving quality of life utilising medical shockwaves.
Kenneth Craig
1
Cristina Maria d’Agostino
2
Jacqueline Craig Huges
1*
Bradley Takai
1**
Marjorie Ann
Walker
1***
Richard Wong
1****
Stephen Buckley
3
1
Director - Kompass OrthoShock Medical Shockwave Therapy & Human Wellness Research Centre,
Auckland, New Zealand;
2
Head of Shockwave Therapy, Orthopaedics & Traumatology Dept.
Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan - Lombardy, Italy;
1*
Researcher of Human Movement;
1**
Director
of Physiotherapy;
1***
Physiotherapist;
1****
Exercise Practitioner;
3
High Performance Coach. FXV,
Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
Age related skeletal muscle atrophy and sarcopenia resulting in the loss of muscle
capacity and mass in the elderly negatively impacts physical capacity, daily function,
quality of life, and constitutes a growing global healthcare burden. Progressive motor
neuron degeneration, increases in fat mass, decreases in lean muscle, bone mass,
and cellular environmental aberrances are commonly seen alterations of aging
muscle. This leads to impairments in metabolic rate, aerobic capacity, strength,
balance, functional capacity, along with emotional and cognitive distress. These
impairments and aberrances of the restorative pathways and regenerative capacity
of aging muscles require synergistic reversal in order to optimise muscle integrity
and optimal functional capacity in the older adult population. Much research has
been conducted introducing interventions to induce a positive bio-physical, bio-
chemical and bio-molecular response of aging muscle tissue. Yet despite advances
in pharmacogenics and stem-cell research, clinical interventions that can either
retard or ameliorate this phenomenon remains severely limited and is often
economically unviable. Our hypothesis suggests that given what has been elucidated
thus far of the mechanisms of action of medical shockwaves on human tissue, it
could be a viable economical treatment option to restore regenerative pathways of
aging muscle tissue, optimising and prolonging its health, strength and functional
capacity in the older adult population.
Keywords: Muscle atrophy; Sarcopenia; Collagen; Satellite cells; PAX3/7;
Transforming growth factor-ß1; Fibroblast growth factor 6; Insulin-like growth factor;

2. 2
Myostatin; Hepatocyte growth factor p38α/ß inhibition; Myogenic regenerative
factors (Growth factors); Electrohydraulic medical shockwaves; medical shockwaves.
Note: Hypothesis in submission pending publication
Lead author correspondence:
Kenneth Craig
7A Piermark Drive, Rosedale
North Shore City, New Zealand
nopain@xtra.co.nz

3. 3
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