The inability to move. There are two general forms: (a) spastic in which injury is located in the brain or spinal cord and (b) flaccid in which injury is located in a nerve between the spinal cord and the affected muscle.
A condition in which part of the body cannot be moved because the motor nerves have been damaged or the muscles have been weakened.
Complete or partial loss of the ability to move one or more muscles at will in a controlled way, often accompanied by loss of feeling as well; sometimes called palsy. Paralysis does not necessarily imply total immobility, as is sometimes assumed. Muscles can be rigid, a condition termed spastic, but they may also be weak and “floppy,” lacking the tension that muscles normally have even at rest. Weakness alone is sometimes called paresis.
Paralyses, condition characterized by loss of sensation or of muscle function; it may be congenital or result from injury, disease, or poisoning.
Temporary or permanent loss of motor function that may be due to stroke, spinal cord I injury, tumor, or other neurological disorder.
The complete or partial loss of the power of motion or sensation. Paralysis occurs when there is a loss of nerve impulses to a muscle, resulting in an inability to move that muscle. Sudden paralysis is usually the result of stroke or trauma (such as a broken neck or back). Spinal cord injuries commonly result from car or /motorcycle injuries, falls, sporting injuries, or gunshot wounds. Paralysis from spinal cord injuries can be irreversible.
Muscle weakness that varies in its extent, its severity, and the degree of spasticity or flaccidity according to the nature of the underlying disease and its distribution in the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, or muscles.
Paralysis, or palsy, is loss of muscular power due to some disorder of the nervous system. Weakness rather than total movement loss is sometimes described as paresis. Paralysis may be temporary or permanent and may be accompanied by loss of feeling.
The loss of feeling in and the ability to move some part of the body.
Paralysis refers to the total or partial loss of voluntary muscle movement due to a muscle’s inability to contract. It can be transient or lasting and can impact a range from a tiny facial muscle to several large body muscles. The affected regions might also experience a loss of sensation. Another term for paralysis is palsy.
Paralysis is categorized based on which body regions are impacted and the muscles’ specific effects. When one side of the body experiences paralysis, it’s termed hemiplegia. Diplegia refers to the condition where symmetrical areas on both body sides, like the legs, are paralyzed. Quadriplegia or tetraplegia describes the paralysis of all four limbs along with the torso. Paraplegia pertains to the paralysis of both legs, potentially including parts of the trunk. Moreover, paralysis can be labeled as flaccid, leading to limpness, or spastic, resulting in stiffness.
Muscles governing body movements contract due to impulses stemming from the brain’s motor cortex. These impulses traverse through the spinal cord and peripheral nerves to get to the muscles. Damage or disorders at any point in this nerve route can lead to paralysis. Another possible cause of paralysis is an issue within the muscle itself.
One frequent cause of paralysis is a stroke. This happens when a section of the brain is harmed due to bleeding from a burst blood vessel or when a blood clot obstructs oxygen supply to a particular brain area. Paralysis typically manifests on the side of the body opposite to where the brain damage is, as motor nerves crisscross in the brainstem.
Hemiplegia can result from any brain condition where the segment governing movement is compromised. This can be due to issues like brain tumors, brain abscesses, or brain hemorrhages.
Certain forms of paralysis arise from harm to areas of the nervous system responsible for precise motion coordination, like the cerebellum and basal ganglia. A deficiency of dopamine in the basal ganglia is the root cause of Parkinson’s disease.
Injury to the cranial nerves can influence multiple muscles and their associated functions. For instance, harm to the facial nerve (also known as the seventh cranial nerve) leads to facial muscle weakness and a diminished sense of taste.
When there’s damage or disease in the spinal cord, muscles governed by nerves beneath that particular area will become paralyzed. Factors like fractures in one or more vertebrae (which can arise from severe trauma, such as a car crash) or a disc prolapse (commonly referred to as a slipped disc) can lead to such spinal cord damage or pressure. Ailments like multiple sclerosis and poliomyelitis also target the spinal cord.
Specific nerve conditions, termed neuropathies, impact the peripheral nerves and can lead to different extents of paralysis. Various factors can cause these neuropathies, including diabetes mellitus, lack of vitamins, liver ailments, cancer, or the harmful impacts of certain medications or metals, like lead.
Some conditions originating in the muscles, like muscular dystrophy, can lead to paralysis. Myasthenia gravis occasionally results in temporary paralysis.
If feasible, the root cause is addressed. Physiotherapy is recommended for both transient and lasting paralysis to avoid joints from stiffening in uncomfortable positions. Moreover, it aids in reconditioning and fortifying the muscles and joints in individuals with temporary paralysis, ensuring a level of movement post-recovery.
For individuals with paralysis who are bound to a bed or wheelchair, proper nursing care is crucial. This helps prevent complications associated with extended immobility, including bedsores, deep vein thrombosis, urinary tract infections, constipation, and deformities of the limbs.
Impairment of muscle function or a group of muscles, typically resulting from nerve or nerve center damage that regulates them. A mild reduction in muscular function is commonly referred to as palsy, muscular weakness, or a decrease in strength.