Dominic Stone
Muscle weakness occurs when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. It can be caused by an underlying health condition, ageing, or an endocrine disorder. It can also be a symptom of a spinal cord disorder, or a brain or nerve disorder.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Muscle weakness occurs when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. |
| Causes | In most cases, muscle weakness is caused by an underlying health condition. Aging is also a factor, with about 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60 and above experiencing muscle weakness. Some specific causes include endocrine disorders (e.g. hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism), electrolyte imbalances (e.g. disturbances in calcium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium), and spinal cord disorders. |
| Symptoms | Difficulty rising from a chair, brushing hair, lifting objects, or dropping things. Drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling. Inability to walk, frequent falls, and difficulty breathing. |
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What You'll Learn
- Muscle weakness can be caused by an underlying health condition, such as a primary muscle disorder or endocrine disorder
- It can also be caused by ageing, with about 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60+ experiencing muscle weakness
- Muscle weakness can make it difficult to perform daily activities, such as rising from a chair or brushing your hair
- It can also cause frequent falls and difficulty walking
- Muscle weakness can lead to paralysis if left untreated
Muscle weakness can be caused by an underlying health condition, such as a primary muscle disorder or endocrine disorder
Muscle weakness occurs when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. In most cases, muscle weakness is caused by an underlying health condition, such as a primary muscle disorder or endocrine disorder.
Primary muscle disorders, or myositides, are characterised by muscle weakness. Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and necrotizing myositis are associated with acute or subacute proximal weakness and may be linked to malignancy or connective tissue disorders. Inclusion body myositis, which tends to occur in older adults, affects distal muscles early and progresses asymmetrically. Endocrine disorders that can cause muscle weakness include hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease), endogenous glucocorticoid excess (Cushing syndrome), acromegaly, and primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn syndrome).
Muscle weakness can also be caused by ageing, with about 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60 years and above experiencing it. Symptoms of muscle weakness include difficulty rising from a chair, brushing your hair, lifting an object off a high shelf, or dropping things. It might cause drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling, depending on which muscles are weak. In some cases, muscle weakness can make it difficult to walk or balance and may lead to frequent falls. If left untreated, muscle weakness can significantly impact a person's ability to perform daily activities and may cause other symptoms.
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It can also be caused by ageing, with about 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60+ experiencing muscle weakness
Muscle weakness occurs when your body is unable to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. This can be caused by ageing, with about 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60 and above experiencing muscle weakness.
Ageing is not the only cause of muscle weakness, however. In most cases, it is caused by an underlying health condition. For example, endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease), endogenous glucocorticoid excess (Cushing syndrome), acromegaly, and primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn syndrome) can all cause muscle weakness. Diabetic neuropathy may also affect motor neurons, including the oculomotor nerve.
Muscle weakness can also be caused by numerous electrolyte imbalances, including disturbances in calcium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium. If you are experiencing muscle weakness, it is important to see your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, muscle weakness can make it difficult to perform daily activities and may also cause other symptoms.
The symptoms of muscle weakness include difficulty rising from a chair, brushing your hair, lifting an object off a high shelf, or dropping things. It might also cause drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling, depending on which muscles are weak. In some cases, muscle weakness can lead to an inability to walk and frequent falls.
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Muscle weakness can make it difficult to perform daily activities, such as rising from a chair or brushing your hair
Muscle weakness occurs when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. This can make it difficult to perform daily activities such as rising from a chair or brushing your hair. In some cases, muscle weakness can lead to an inability to walk and frequent falls.
Muscle weakness can be a symptom of an underlying health condition, or it may be caused by aging. About 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60 and above experience muscle weakness. Some primary muscle disorders that can cause weakness include dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and necrotizing myositis. These disorders may be associated with malignancy or connective tissue disorders. Endocrine disorders such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can also cause muscle weakness.
The impact of muscle weakness on daily activities will depend on which muscles are affected. For example, weakness in the muscles of the chest can cause difficulty breathing, while weakness in the muscles that control the eyes can lead to double vision. Diffuse muscle weakness refers to symptoms that are widespread and affect many areas of the body. This can include difficulty with tasks such as lifting an object off a high shelf or dropping things.
If you are experiencing muscle weakness, it is important to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. The treatment plan will depend on the underlying cause of the weakness and the severity of your symptoms.
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It can also cause frequent falls and difficulty walking
Muscle weakness occurs when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. This can cause frequent falls and difficulty walking. Lower extremity muscle weakness can affect your gait, or the way you walk. It can also cause you to fall sideways when trying to support and balance your body weight. Depending on the extent of the muscle weakness, you may need to use an assistive or adaptive device to walk safely.
Muscle weakness can make it difficult to perform daily activities, such as rising from a chair, brushing your hair, lifting an object off a high shelf, or dropping things. It can also cause drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling, depending on which muscles are weak. In some cases, muscle weakness can lead to paralysis.
Muscle weakness can be a symptom of an underlying health condition, such as a primary muscle disorder or endocrine disorder. It can also be caused by aging, with about 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60 and above experiencing muscle weakness. If you are experiencing muscle weakness, it is important to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment.
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Muscle weakness can lead to paralysis if left untreated
Muscle weakness occurs when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles. In most cases, muscle weakness is caused by an underlying health condition, but ageing is also a factor. About 5% of adults in the US aged 60 and above experience muscle weakness.
The word "diffuse" means "widespread" and refers to symptoms that are not localized to just one or a few areas. Instead, they are all over, or at least in many areas. Symptoms of muscle weakness include difficulty rising from a chair, brushing your hair, lifting an object off a high shelf, or dropping things. It might cause drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling, depending on which muscles are weak. In some cases, muscle weakness can lead to an inability to walk and frequent falls when attempting to support and balance body weight.
Your exact treatment plan will depend on the underlying condition that's causing your muscle weakness and the severity of your symptoms.
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Frequently asked questions
Weak muscles are when your body isn't able to contract your muscles properly, leading to reduced strength in one or more of your muscles.
Symptoms of weak muscles include difficulty rising from a chair, brushing your hair, lifting an object off a high shelf, or dropping things. It might also cause drooping of an eyelid or difficulty smiling, depending on which muscles are weak.
In most cases, weak muscles are caused by an underlying health condition. However, ageing also plays a factor. About 5% of adults in the U.S. aged 60 years and above experience muscle weakness.
Weakness is the predominant feature of primary muscle disorders, or myositides. Some of these disorders, such as dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and necrotizing myositis, present with acute or subacute proximal weakness and may be associated with malignancy or connective tissue disorders.
If your muscles feel weak, it's important to see your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, weak muscles can make it difficult to perform daily activities and may also cause other symptoms.
