Muscle function loss
Muscle function loss is when a muscle does not work or move normally. The medical term for complete loss of muscle function is paralysis.
Considerations
Loss of muscle function may be caused by:
- A disease of the muscle itself (myopathy)
- A disease of the area where the muscle and nerve meet (neuromuscular junction)
- A disease of the nervous system: Nerve damage (neuropathy), spinal cord injury (myelopathy), or brain damage (stroke or other brain injury)
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
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The loss of muscle function after some of these types of events can be severe. In some cases, muscle strength may not completely return, even with treatment.
Paralysis can be temporary or permanent. It can affect a small area (localized or focal) or be widespread (generalized). It may affect one side (unilateral) or both sides (bilateral).
If the paralysis affects the lower half of the body and both legs it is called paraplegia. If it affects both arms and legs, it is called quadriplegia. If the paralysis affects the muscles that cause breathing, it is quickly life threatening.
Causes
Diseases of the muscles that cause muscle-function loss include:
- Alcohol-associated myopathy
- Congenital myopathies (most often due to a genetic disorder)
- Dermatomyositis and polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis is a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Polymyositis is a similar inflammatory condition that also involves ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticlePolymyositis
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are rare inflammatory diseases. (The condition is called dermatomyositis when it involves the skin. ) These disease...
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- Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of inherited disorders that cause muscle weakness and loss of muscle tissue, which get worse over time.
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Diseases of the nervous system that cause muscle function loss include:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig disease)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain, brain stem and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movemen...
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Bell palsy
Bell palsy is a disorder of the nerve that controls movement of the muscles in the face. This nerve is called the facial or seventh cranial nerve. D...
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Botulism
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria may enter the body through wounds or by eating imprope...
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Guillain-Barré syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a serious health problem that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the peripher...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton Syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder. Neuromuscular disorders involve the muscles and the nerves that control them.
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- Paralytic shellfish poisoning
Shellfish
This article describes a group of different conditions caused by eating contaminated fish and seafood. The most common of these are ciguatera poison...
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- Focal nerve injury
- Polio or other viruses
Polio
Polio is a viral disease that can affect nerves and can lead to partial or full paralysis. The medical name for polio is poliomyelitis.
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Spinal cord or brain injury
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the nearby bones,...
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Home Care
Sudden loss of muscle function is a medical emergency. Get medical help right away.
After you have received medical treatment, your health care provider may recommend some of the following measures:
- Follow your prescribed therapy.
- If the nerves to your face or head are damaged, you may have difficulty chewing and swallowing or closing your eyes. In these cases, a soft diet may be recommended. You will also need some form of eye protection, such as a patch over the eye while you are asleep.
- Long-term immobility can cause serious complications. Change positions often and take care of your skin. Range-of-motion exercises may help to maintain some muscle tone.
- Splints may help prevent muscle contractures, a condition in which a muscle becomes permanently shortened.
Splints
A splint is a device used to hold a part of the body stable to decrease pain and prevent further injury.
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When to Contact a Medical Professional
Muscle paralysis always requires immediate medical attention. If you notice gradual weakening or problems with a muscle, get medical attention as soon as possible.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:
Physical exam
During a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinati...
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- What part(s) of your body are affected?
- Does it affect one or both sides of your body?
- Did it develop in a top-to-bottom pattern (descending paralysis), or a bottom-to-top pattern (ascending paralysis)?
- Do you have difficulty getting out of a chair or climbing stairs?
- Do you have difficulty lifting your arm above your head?
- Do you have problems extending or lifting your wrist (wrist drop)?
- Do you have difficulty gripping (grasping)?
Symptoms:
- Do you have pain?
- Do you have numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation?
Numbness
Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleTingling
Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleLoss of sensation
Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...
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- Do you have shortness of breath?
- What other symptoms do you have?
Time pattern:
- Do episodes occur repeatedly (recurrent)?
- How long do they last?
- Is the muscle function loss getting worse (progressive)?
- Is it progressing slowly or quickly?
- Does it become worse over the course of the day?
Aggravating and relieving factors:
- What, if anything, makes the paralysis worse?
- Does it get worse after you take potassium supplements or other medicines?
- Is it better after you rest?
Tests that may be performed include:
- Blood tests (such as CBC, white blood cell differential, blood chemistry levels, and muscle enzyme levels)
CBC
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:The number of white blood cells (WBC count)The number of red blood cells (RBC count)The numb...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleWhite blood cell differential
The blood differential test measures the percentage of each type of white blood cell (WBC) that you have in your blood. It also reveals if there are...
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CT scan of the head
A head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.
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MRI of the head
A head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...
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- Muscle or nerve biopsy
Biopsy
A biopsy is the removal of a small piece of tissue for laboratory examination.
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- Muscle ultrasound
- Nerve conduction studies and electromyography
Electromyography
Electromyography (EMG) is a test that checks the health of the muscles and the nerves that control the muscles.
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Intravenous feeding or feeding tubes may be required in severe cases. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy may be recommended.
Intravenous
Intravenous means "within a vein. " Most often it refers to giving medicines or fluids through a needle or tube inserted into a vein. This allows th...
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Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Kaminski HJ. Disorders of neuromuscular transmission. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 390.
Selcen D. Muscle diseases. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 389.
Warner WC, Sawyer JR. Neuromuscular disorders. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 35.