Muscle weakness
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Muscle weakness
Your muscles may feel weak when you have pain, but you should still have a normal range of movement. Brief periods of muscle weakness may be common after a strenuous workout. This type of muscle weakness usually means you have overexerted, and it is not a cause for concern as long as you can move and function normally in your daily activities.
True muscle weakness that occurs in one area of your body with a loss of function, even for a few minutes, is a medical emergency. It may be caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Causes of decreased blood flow to the brain include:
- A transient ischemic attack (TIA) which results in a brief and temporary loss of function.
- A stroke which results in a progressive and permanent loss of function. Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you suspect a stroke is occurring.
Credits
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Updated | July 28, 2008 |
| Last updated: | July 28, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Reviewed By: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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