Medical Health Encyclopedia

Muscle function loss

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Overview Treatment

Muscle function loss

Definition:

Complete loss of muscle function, or paralysis, can affect a small area (localized) or be widespread (generalized).

Alternative Names:
Paralysis; Loss of movement

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Considerations:

Loss of muscle function (paralysis) is a major medical event.

In the U.S., the majority of paralysis results from stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA) or from trauma such as a spinal fracture (broken neck or back). The paralysis following strokes and spinal fractures can be severe and frequently is irreversible.

There are other causes of paralysis, including infectious diseases (such as polio), genetic diseases (such as peroneal dystrophy), autoimmune disease (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS), and toxic conditions (such as botulism and paralytic shellfish poisoning).

Paralysis can be temporary or permanent; localized or widespread; one-sided (unilateral) or two-sided (bilateral); and can affect the lower extremities (paraplegic) or upper and lower extremities (quadriplegic). Paralysis can be an indication of a life-threatening problem such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.

IN EVERY SITUATION, MUSCLE PARALYSIS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

Common Causes:

• Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
• Bell's palsy
• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal fracture (broken neck or broken back)
• Poliomyelitis (polio)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Botulism
• Paralytic shellfish poisoning
• Guillain-Barre syndrome

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