Weakness refers to loss of muscle strength. That is, people cannot move a muscle normally despite trying as hard as they can. However, the term is often misused. Many people with normal muscle strength say they feel weak when they feel tired (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Fatigue) or when their movement is limited because of pain or joint stiffness.

For a person to intentionally move a muscle (called a voluntary muscle contraction), the brain must generate a signal that travels a pathway from

• The brain
• Through nerve cells in the brain stem and spinal cord
• Through nerves from the spinal cord to the muscles (called peripheral nerves)
• Across the connection between nerve and muscle (called a neuromuscular junction)

Also, the amount of muscle tissue must be normal, and the tissue must be able to contract in response to the signal from the nerves. Therefore, true weakness results only when one part of this pathway―brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, or the connections between them―is damaged or diseased.

Weakness may develop suddenly or gradually. Weakness may affect all of the muscles in the body (called generalized weakness) or only one part of the body. For example, depending on where the spinal cord is damaged, spinal cord disorders may cause weakness only of the legs.

Symptoms depend on which muscles are affected. For example, when weakness affects muscles of the chest, people may have difficulty breathing. When weakness affects muscles that control the eyes, people may have double vision. Complete muscle weakness causes paralysis. People may have other symptoms depending on what is causing the weakness. Weakness is often accompanied by abnormalities in sensation, such as tingling, a pins-and-needles sensation, and numbness.

Causes

Because malfunction in the same part of the signal pathway causes similar symptoms regardless of cause, the many causes of muscle weakness are usually grouped by the location of the cause (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness). That is, causes are grouped as those that affect the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, or connections between nerves and muscles. However, some disorders affect more than one location.

Common causes: Causes differ depending on whether weakness is generalized or affects only specific muscles.

The most common causes of generalized weakness are

• A decrease in general physical fitness (called deconditioning), which may result from illness and/or a decrease in physical reserves (frailty), such as muscle mass, bone density, and the heart's and lungs' ability to function, especially in older people
• Loss of muscle tissue (wasting, or atrophy) due to long periods of inactivity or bed rest, as occurs in an ICU
• Damage to nerves due to a severe illness or injury, such as severe or extensive burns
• Certain muscle disorders, such as those due to a low level of potassium (hypokalemia), consumption of too much alcohol, or use of corticosteroids
• Drugs used to paralyze muscles—for example, to keep people from moving during surgery or while on a ventilator

The most common causes of weakness in specific muscles are

• Strokes (the most common cause of weakness affecting one side of the body)
• A pinched nerve, as occurs in carpal tunnel syndrome
• A ruptured or herniated disk in the spine
• Pressure on (compression of) the spinal cord, as can result from cancer that has spread to the spinal cord
• Multiple sclerosis

Less common causes: Many other conditions sometimes cause weakness (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness). For example, electrolyte abnormalities (such as a low level of magnesium or calcium) can cause weakness that sometimes comes and goes, as well as muscle cramping and twitches.

Fatigue: Many people report weakness when their problem is actually fatigue. Common causes of fatigue include a severe illness, cancer, a chronic infection (such as HIV infection, hepatitis, or mononucleosis), heart failure, anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and mood disorders (such as depression).

Evaluation

First, doctors try to determine whether people are weak or simply tired. If people are weak, doctors then determine whether the weakness is severe enough or worsening quickly enough to be life threatening.

Warning signs: In people with weakness, the following symptoms are cause for concern:

• Weakness that develops over a few days or less
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty raising the head while lying down
• Difficulty chewing, talking, or swallowing
• Loss of the ability to walk

When to see a doctor: People who have any warning sign should go to an emergency department immediately. Immediate medical attention is crucial because weakness accompanied by a warning sign can worsen quickly and cause permanent disability or be fatal. People without warning signs should call their doctor. The doctor can decide how quickly they need to be seen based on their symptoms and other disorders they have. For most of these people, a delay of a few days is not harmful.

If the weakness worsens gradually (over months to years), people should discuss the problem with their doctor at their next routine visit.

What the doctor does: Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history. Doctors then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause and the tests that may need to be done (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness).

Doctors ask people to describe in detail what they are experiencing as weakness. Doctors ask

• When the weakness began
• Whether it began suddenly or gradually
• Whether it is constant or is worsening
• Which muscles are affected
• Whether and how the weakness affects the ability to do certain activities, such as breathing, brushing their teeth or hair, speaking, swallowing, standing up from a seated position, climbing stairs, and walking
• Whether they have other symptoms that indicate malfunction of the nervous system, such as speech or vision problems, loss of sensation or memory, or seizures

What seems to be sudden weakness is sometimes gradual weakness, but people do not notice it until they can no longer do something, such as walking or tying their shoes.

Based on the description of weakness, doctors can often identify the most likely causes, as for the following:

• A muscle disorder: Weakness beginning in the hips and thighs or the shoulders (that is, people have difficulty standing up or lifting their arms overhead) and no effect on sensation
• A peripheral nerve disorder: Weakness beginning in the hands and feet (that is, people have difficulty lifting a cup, writing, or stepping over a curb) and loss of sensation

Doctors also ask about other symptoms, which may suggest one or more possible causes. For example, if people with back pain and a history of cancer report weakness in a leg, the cause may be cancer that has spread and put pressure on the spinal cord.

People are asked about symptoms that suggest fatigue or another problem, rather than true muscle weakness. People with true muscle weakness often report difficulty doing specific tasks, and the weakness follows a pattern (for example, becomes worse after walking). Fatigue tends to cause more general symptoms and does not follow a particular pattern. That is, it is present all the time and affects the whole body. Doctors ask about recent or current disorders that commonly cause fatigue, such as any recent severe illness or a mood disorder (such as depression).

Doctors ask about past and current use of drugs, including alcohol and recreational drugs. Whether family members have had similar symptoms can help doctors determine whether the cause is hereditary.

During the physical examination, doctors focus on the nervous system (neurologic examination—see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Physical Examination) and muscles. Doctors test the cranial nerves (which connect the brain with the eyes, ears, face, and various other parts of the body), for example, by checking eye movements, the ability to speak clearly, and the ability to rotate the head.

Doctors observe how the person walks and check for other signs that the nervous system is malfunctioning, such as loss of coordination or sensation. Muscles are checked for size and unusual unintended movements (such as involuntary twitches and shaking). Doctors note how smoothly muscles move and whether there is involuntary resistance to movement (detected when doctors try to move a muscle that they have asked the person to relax).

Reflexes are checked. Reflexes are automatic responses to a stimulus. For example, doctors test the knee jerk reflex by gently tapping the muscle tendon below the kneecap with a rubber hammer. Normally, the knee then jerks involuntarily (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Reflexes). This evaluation helps doctors identify which part of the nervous system is probably affected, as for the following:

• The brain or spinal cord: If reflexes are very easy to trigger and are strong
• The nerves: If reflexes are hard to trigger and are slow or absent

Muscle strength is tested by asking the person to push or pull against resistance or to do maneuvers that require strength, such as walking on the heels and tiptoes or standing up.

A general physical examination is done to look for other symptoms that may suggest a cause, such as difficulty breathing.

Generally, if the history and physical examination do not detect specific abnormalities that suggest a brain, spinal cord, nerve, or muscle disorder, the cause is likely to be fatigue.

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Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness Cause Common Features* Tests Brain disorders Brain tumors Headaches, personality changes, confusion, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, loss of balance and coordination, and paralysis or numbness Sometimes seizures MRI or CT of the brain Multiple sclerosis (affects the brain, spinal cord or both) Usually other symptoms of nervous system malfunction (such as loss of sensation, loss of coordination, and vision problems) Weakness that Tends to come and go Sometimes affects different parts of the body Is worse in hot weather MRI of the brain Sometimes a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Stroke Symptoms that occur suddenly: Weakness or paralysis, usually on one side of the body Abnormalities in or loss of sensation on one side of the body Difficulty speaking, sometimes with slurred speech Confusion Dimness, blurring, or loss of vision, particularly in one eye Dizziness or loss of balance and coordination A doctor's examination CT or MRI of the brain Spinal cord disorders† Acute transverse myelitis (sudden spinal cord inflammation), often due to Multiple sclerosis Inflammation of blood vessels Certain infections such as Lyme disease or syphilis Tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness that Occur rapidly (over hours to a few days) Start in the feet and move upward Usually a bandlike tightness around the chest or abdomen Often difficulty passing urine When an injury is severe, loss of bowel and bladder control and/or reduced sexual response, including erectile dysfunction in men MRI of the spinal cord A spinal tap Compression of the spinal cord that develops suddenly (acute), as may result from Abscesses (pockets of pus) Hematomas (pockets of blood) Injuries of the neck or back Some cancers Compression that develops slowly (chronic), as may result from Cervical spondylosis (degeneration of the vertebral disks due to arthritis) Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the passageway for the spine) due to arthritis Some tumors For acute, symptoms that develop in hours or days For chronic, symptoms that are present for weeks to months Weakness or paralysis of the legs and sometimes arms and loss of sensation With abscesses, infections, or tumors, tenderness to the touch over the compressed area When an injury is severe, loss of bowel and bladder control and/or reduced sexual response, including erectile dysfunction in men MRI of the spinal cord Compression of a spinal nerve root by a ruptured disk Weakness, numbness, or both in one leg or arm Usually back or neck pain that shoots down the leg or arm Usually MRI or CT of the spinal cord Usually electromyography (stimulating muscles and recording their electrical activity) Sometimes nerve conduction studies (measuring how fast nerves transmit signals) Cauda equina syndrome, caused by pressure on several spinal nerve roots, as may result from A ruptured or herniated disk Spread of cancer to the spine Weakness in both legs Loss of feeling in the upper inner part of the thighs, the buttocks, bladder, genitals, and the area between them (saddle area) Usually pain in the lower back Loss of bowel and bladder control and/or reduced sexual response, including erectile dysfunction in men MRI of the spinal cord Multiple sclerosis (affects the brain, spinal cord, or both) Usually other symptoms of nervous system malfunction (such as loss of sensation, loss of coordination, and vision problems) Weakness that Tends to come and go Sometimes affects different parts of the body Is worse in hot weather MRI of the brain and spinal cord Sometimes a spinal tap Disorders that affect the peripheral nerves and the brain or spinal cord‡ Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Progressive muscle weakness that Often starts in the hands Sometimes affects one side more than the other Clumsiness, involuntary muscle contractions, and muscle cramps Drooling and difficulty speaking and swallowing As the disorder progresses, difficulty breathing and eventually death Electromyography and sometimes nerve conduction studies Often MRI of the spinal cord to rule out spinal cord disorders that can cause similar symptoms Postpolio syndrome Muscles that tire easily and progressive muscle weakness Sometimes muscle twitching and loss of muscle tissue In people who have had polio Electromyography and sometimes nerve conduction studies Disorders that simultaneously affect many nerves (polyneuropathies) Guillain-Barré syndrome Weakness and often loss of sensation that Usually begin in both legs Then progress upward to the arms When severe, difficulty swallowing and breathing Electromyography and nerve conduction studies A spinal tap Nerve damage caused by Excessive use of alcohol Diabetes Drugs (such as vincristine, cisplatinSome Trade Names PLATINOL , or statins) Infections (such as diphtheria, hepatitis C, HIV infection, Lyme disease, or syphilis) Sarcoidosis Severe illness (especially in the intensive care unit) Toxic substances (such as lead or mercury) Vitamin deficiency (such as thiamin, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 deficiency) Muscle weakness that Often begins in both feet Then affects the hands Then progresses up the legs and arms Loss of sensation, typically before muscles become weak Electromyography and nerve conduction studies Other tests depending on the disorder suspected, such as Urine tests to check for toxins Blood tests to check for certain antibodies or to measure sugar, vitamin, or drug levels Sometimes a spinal tap Disorders that affect the connections between nerves and muscles (neuromuscular junction disorders) Botulism (due to the bacteria Clostridium botulinum) At first, often a dry mouth, drooping eyelids, vision problems (such as double vision), difficulty swallowing and speaking, and rapidly progressive muscle weakness, often beginning in the face and moving down the body When contaminated food is the source, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea No changes in sensation Blood or stool tests to check for toxins produced by the bacteria Sometimes electromyography or examination of a stool sample to check for bacteria Myasthenia gravis Weak and drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and weakness in the arms and legs Excessive weakness of affected muscles that Occurs after muscles are used Disappears when they are rested Recurs when they are used again Use of a drug (edrophoniumSome Trade Names TENSILON test) to see whether it improves muscle strength after muscles are used Blood tests to check for certain antibodies and/or electromyography Organophosphate (insecticide) poisoning Tearing of the eyes, blurred vision, increased salivation, sweating, coughing, vomiting, frequent bowel movements and urination, and weak muscles that twitch A doctor's examination Sometimes blood tests to identify the toxin Disorders that affect muscles (myopathies)‡ Muscle malfunction due to use of alcohol, corticosteroids, or various other drugs Weakness that tends to first cause difficulty lifting the arms overhead or standing up Use of a drug that can cause muscle damage When due to use of alcohol or certain other drugs, muscle aches and pains A doctor's examination Stopping any drug that can cause muscle malfunction Sometimes electromyography Blood tests to measure levels of muscle enzymes that leak from damaged muscles into the blood Viral infections that cause muscle inflammation Muscle aches and pains that are worsened by movement, especially walking Sometimes fever, a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and/or fatigue Sometimes only a doctor's examination Muscle biopsy (removal of a piece of muscle tissue for examination under a microscope) Conditions that cause generalized muscle wasting: Burns Cancer Lack of use due to prolonged bed rest or immobilization in a cast Sepsis (infection of the bloodstream) Starvation Loss of muscle tissue In people with obvious evidence of the problem A doctor's examination Electrolyte abnormalities (including a low level of potassium, magnesium, or calcium) due to certain disorders or use of diuretics Weakness that Affects the whole body May come and go Is often accompanied by muscle cramping and twitches Blood tests to measure the level of potassium and other electrolytes Muscular dystrophies (such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy) Progressive muscle weakness that May start during infancy, childhood, or adulthood Depending on the type, may progress rapidly, causing early death In some types, an abnormally curved spine (scoliosis) and weakness of the spinal muscles, which often develop during childhood A thorough family history to determine whether any family members have had a similar disorder Genetic testing Muscle biopsy X-rays of the spine to check for scoliosis *Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. †Symptoms vary depending on the location (level) of the damage. Areas that are supplied by the parts of the spinal cord below the damaged part are affected (see Spinal Cord Disorders: Where Is the Spinal Cord Damaged?). ‡Sensation is usually not affected. CT = computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging. Some Causes and Features of Muscle Weakness Cause Common Features* Tests Brain disorders Brain tumors Headaches, personality changes, confusion, difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, loss of balance and coordination, and paralysis or numbness Sometimes seizures MRI or CT of the brain Multiple sclerosis (affects the brain, spinal cord or both) Usually other symptoms of nervous system malfunction (such as loss of sensation, loss of coordination, and vision problems) Weakness that Tends to come and go Sometimes affects different parts of the body Is worse in hot weather MRI of the brain Sometimes a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) Stroke Symptoms that occur suddenly: Weakness or paralysis, usually on one side of the body Abnormalities in or loss of sensation on one side of the body Difficulty speaking, sometimes with slurred speech Confusion Dimness, blurring, or loss of vision, particularly in one eye Dizziness or loss of balance and coordination A doctor's examination CT or MRI of the brain Spinal cord disorders† Acute transverse myelitis (sudden spinal cord inflammation), often due to Multiple sclerosis Inflammation of blood vessels Certain infections such as Lyme disease or syphilis Tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness that Occur rapidly (over hours to a few days) Start in the feet and move upward Usually a bandlike tightness around the chest or abdomen Often difficulty passing urine When an injury is severe, loss of bowel and bladder control and/or reduced sexual response, including erectile dysfunction in men MRI of the spinal cord A spinal tap Compression of the spinal cord that develops suddenly (acute), as may result from Abscesses (pockets of pus) Hematomas (pockets of blood) Injuries of the neck or back Some cancers Compression that develops slowly (chronic), as may result from Cervical spondylosis (degeneration of the vertebral disks due to arthritis) Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the passageway for the spine) due to arthritis Some tumors For acute, symptoms that develop in hours or days For chronic, symptoms that are present for weeks to months Weakness or paralysis of the legs and sometimes arms and loss of sensation With abscesses, infections, or tumors, tenderness to the touch over the compressed area When an injury is severe, loss of bowel and bladder control and/or reduced sexual response, including erectile dysfunction in men MRI of the spinal cord Compression of a spinal nerve root by a ruptured disk Weakness, numbness, or both in one leg or arm Usually back or neck pain that shoots down the leg or arm Usually MRI or CT of the spinal cord Usually electromyography (stimulating muscles and recording their electrical activity) Sometimes nerve conduction studies (measuring how fast nerves transmit signals) Cauda equina syndrome, caused by pressure on several spinal nerve roots, as may result from A ruptured or herniated disk Spread of cancer to the spine Weakness in both legs Loss of feeling in the upper inner part of the thighs, the buttocks, bladder, genitals, and the area between them (saddle area) Usually pain in the lower back Loss of bowel and bladder control and/or reduced sexual response, including erectile dysfunction in men MRI of the spinal cord Multiple sclerosis (affects the brain, spinal cord, or both) Usually other symptoms of nervous system malfunction (such as loss of sensation, loss of coordination, and vision problems) Weakness that Tends to come and go Sometimes affects different parts of the body Is worse in hot weather MRI of the brain and spinal cord Sometimes a spinal tap Disorders that affect the peripheral nerves and the brain or spinal cord‡ Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Progressive muscle weakness that Often starts in the hands Sometimes affects one side more than the other Clumsiness, involuntary muscle contractions, and muscle cramps Drooling and difficulty speaking and swallowing As the disorder progresses, difficulty breathing and eventually death Electromyography and sometimes nerve conduction studies Often MRI of the spinal cord to rule out spinal cord disorders that can cause similar symptoms Postpolio syndrome Muscles that tire easily and progressive muscle weakness Sometimes muscle twitching and loss of muscle tissue In people who have had polio Electromyography and sometimes nerve conduction studies Disorders that simultaneously affect many nerves (polyneuropathies) Guillain-Barré syndrome Weakness and often loss of sensation that Usually begin in both legs Then progress upward to the arms When severe, difficulty swallowing and breathing Electromyography and nerve conduction studies A spinal tap Nerve damage caused by Excessive use of alcohol Diabetes Drugs (such as vincristine, cisplatinSome Trade Names PLATINOL , or statins) Infections (such as diphtheria, hepatitis C, HIV infection, Lyme disease, or syphilis) Sarcoidosis Severe illness (especially in the intensive care unit) Toxic substances (such as lead or mercury) Vitamin deficiency (such as thiamin, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 deficiency) Muscle weakness that Often begins in both feet Then affects the hands Then progresses up the legs and arms Loss of sensation, typically before muscles become weak Electromyography and nerve conduction studies Other tests depending on the disorder suspected, such as Urine tests to check for toxins Blood tests to check for certain antibodies or to measure sugar, vitamin, or drug levels Sometimes a spinal tap Disorders that affect the connections between nerves and muscles (neuromuscular junction disorders) Botulism (due to the bacteria Clostridium botulinum) At first, often a dry mouth, drooping eyelids, vision problems (such as double vision), difficulty swallowing and speaking, and rapidly progressive muscle weakness, often beginning in the face and moving down the body When contaminated food is the source, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea No changes in sensation Blood or stool tests to check for toxins produced by the bacteria Sometimes electromyography or examination of a stool sample to check for bacteria Myasthenia gravis Weak and drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty speaking and swallowing, and weakness in the arms and legs Excessive weakness of affected muscles that Occurs after muscles are used Disappears when they are rested Recurs when they are used again Use of a drug (edrophoniumSome Trade Names TENSILON test) to see whether it improves muscle strength after muscles are used Blood tests to check for certain antibodies and/or electromyography Organophosphate (insecticide) poisoning Tearing of the eyes, blurred vision, increased salivation, sweating, coughing, vomiting, frequent bowel movements and urination, and weak muscles that twitch A doctor's examination Sometimes blood tests to identify the toxin Disorders that affect muscles (myopathies)‡ Muscle malfunction due to use of alcohol, corticosteroids, or various other drugs Weakness that tends to first cause difficulty lifting the arms overhead or standing up Use of a drug that can cause muscle damage When due to use of alcohol or certain other drugs, muscle aches and pains A doctor's examination Stopping any drug that can cause muscle malfunction Sometimes electromyography Blood tests to measure levels of muscle enzymes that leak from damaged muscles into the blood Viral infections that cause muscle inflammation Muscle aches and pains that are worsened by movement, especially walking Sometimes fever, a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and/or fatigue Sometimes only a doctor's examination Muscle biopsy (removal of a piece of muscle tissue for examination under a microscope) Conditions that cause generalized muscle wasting: Burns Cancer Lack of use due to prolonged bed rest or immobilization in a cast Sepsis (infection of the bloodstream) Starvation Loss of muscle tissue In people with obvious evidence of the problem A doctor's examination Electrolyte abnormalities (including a low level of potassium, magnesium, or calcium) due to certain disorders or use of diuretics Weakness that Affects the whole body May come and go Is often accompanied by muscle cramping and twitches Blood tests to measure the level of potassium and other electrolytes Muscular dystrophies (such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy) Progressive muscle weakness that May start during infancy, childhood, or adulthood Depending on the type, may progress rapidly, causing early death In some types, an abnormally curved spine (scoliosis) and weakness of the spinal muscles, which often develop during childhood A thorough family history to determine whether any family members have had a similar disorder Genetic testing Muscle biopsy X-rays of the spine to check for scoliosis *Features include symptoms and results of the doctor's examination. Features mentioned are typical but not always present. †Symptoms vary depending on the location (level) of the damage. Areas that are supplied by the parts of the spinal cord below the damaged part are affected (see Spinal Cord Disorders: Where Is the Spinal Cord Damaged?). ‡Sensation is usually not affected. CT = computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging.

Testing: If people have severe or rapidly progressing generalized weakness or any problems breathing, doctors first do tests to evaluate the strength of the respiratory muscles (pulmonary function tests—see Diagnosis of Lung Disorders: Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)). Results of these tests help doctors estimate the risk of sudden, severe malfunction of the lungs (acute respiratory failure).

Other testing is done based on where doctors think the problem is:

• Brain disorders: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or, if MRI is not possible, computed tomography (CT)
• Spinal cord disorders: MRI or, when MRI is not possible, CT myelography and sometimes a spinal tap (lumbar puncture)
• Peripheral nerve disorders (including polyneuropathies) and neuromuscular junction disorders: Electromyography and usually nerve conduction studies
• A muscle disorder (myopathy): Electromyography, usually nerve conduction studies, and possibly MRI, measurement of muscle enzymes, muscle biopsy, and/or genetic testing.

Occasionally, MRI is not available or cannot be done—for example, in people who have a pacemaker, another implanted metal device, or other metal (such as shrapnel) in their body. In such cases, another test is substituted.

For CT myelography, CT is done after a needle is inserted into the lower back to inject a radiopaque dye into the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord. For electromyography, small needles are inserted into a muscle to record its electrical activity when the muscle is at rest and when it is contracting. Nerve conduction studies use electrodes or small needles to stimulate a nerve. Then doctors measure how fast the nerve transmits signals.

If people have no symptoms besides weakness and no abnormalities are detected during the examination, test results are usually normal. However, doctors sometimes do certain blood tests, such as

• A complete blood cell count (CBC)
• Measurement of levels of electrolytes (such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium), sugar (glucose), and thyroid-stimulating hormone
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which can detect inflammation

Blood tests are sometimes done to evaluate kidney and liver function and to check for the hepatitis virus.

Treatment

If the cause is identified, it is treated if possible. If weakness began suddenly and causes difficulty breathing, a ventilator may be used.

Physical and occupational therapy can help people adapt to permanent weakness and compensate for loss of function. Physical therapy can help people maintain and sometimes regain strength.

Essentials for Older People

As people age, the amount of muscle tissue and muscle strength tend to decrease. These changes occur partly because older people may become less active but also because the production of the hormones that stimulate muscle development decreases. Thus, for older people, bed rest during an illness can have a devastating effect. Compared with younger people, older people start out with less muscle tissue and strength at the beginning of the illness and lose muscle tissue more quickly during the illness.

Drugs are another common cause of weakness in older people because older people take more drugs and are more susceptible to side effects of drugs.

When evaluating older people who report weakness, doctors also focus on conditions that do not cause weakness but interfere with balance, coordination, vision, or mobility or that make movement painful (such as impaired vision or arthritis). Older people may mistakenly describe the effects of such conditions as weakness.

Key Points

• Many people mistakenly say they feel weak when they really mean they are tired or their movement is limited because of pain and/or stiffness.
• True muscle weakness results only when one part of the pathway necessary for voluntary muscle movement (from brain to muscles) malfunctions.
• If weakness becomes severe over a few days or less or if people have any warning sign (see Symptoms and Diagnosis of Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerve Disorders: Warning signs, they should see a doctor immediately.
• Often, doctors can determine whether the problem is true muscle weakness and can identify the cause based on the pattern of symptoms and results of the physical examination.
• Physical therapy is usually helpful in maintaining strength no matter what the cause of weakness is.

Last full review/revision August 2012 by Michael C. Levin, MD