Muscle Weakness Flashcards
What are the three parts to gathering information from patient who presents with weakness?
Does the patient have true muscle weakness?
Where is the weakness?
What is the cause of the muscle weakness?
What other reasons might cause a patient to perceive muscle weakness?
Loss of physical energy Loss of emotional energy Psychological state Non-neuromuscular problem - Joint pain - Stiffness
What sorts of specific activities can people with motor weakness not perform?
Standing up from squatting position
Moving a limb
Why is establishing the pattern of weakness important?
Help determine likely site of underlying pathology
Where might the problem arise from causing weakness?
Muscles Neuromuscular junction Peripheral nerves Spinal nerve rootss Anterior horn cells Corticospinal tracts
What is the first step in figuring out the pattern of weakness?
Generalised or localised
What is an example of a condition causing generalised muscle weakness?
Myasthenia gravis
Affects neuromuscular junction
If the weakness is not generalised, what else must be determined in terms of the pattern?
Symmetric or asymmetric
If symmetric, proximal or distal or localised
What usually causes asymmetric weakness?
Those affecting CNS or PNS
What usually causes proximal weakness?
Primary muscle disorders affecting axial muscle groups
- Deltoids
- Muscles responsible for hip flexion
What does distal weakness affect?
Mainly hands or feet
What can cause distal weakness?
Peripheral neuropathy
Motor neuron disease
What are some causes of weakness?
Immunological conditions Malignancy Vascular events Drugs - Some statins Metabolic disorders Disuse - Bedridden - Space Trauma, including long term consequences
