Weakness is a reduction in the strength of one or more muscles.
Alternative NamesLack of strength; Muscle weakness
ConsiderationsWeakness may be generalized (total body weakness) or localized to only one area, side of the body, limb, or muscle. Weakness is more notable when it is localized. Localized weakness may follow a stroke, flare up of multiple sclerosis, or injury to a nerve.
Weakness may be subjective or objective.
Measurable weakness may result from a variety of conditions including metabolic, neurologic, primary muscular diseases, and toxic disorders.
METABOLIC
NEUROLOGIC
PRIMARY MUSCULAR DISEASES
TOXIC
OTHER
Home CareFollow prescribed therapy for treating the underlying cause of the weakness.
Call your health care provider ifCall your doctor if you have:
The doctor will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:
Physical examination may include special attention paid to examination of heart, lungs, and thyroid gland. If there is a local area of weakness, the examination will focus on the nerve and muscle functions.
Diagnostic tests that may be done include:
Griggs RC, Jazefowicz RF, Aminoff MJ. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 418.
Barohn RJ. Muscle diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 447.
She had a weakness for chocolate.We shall use our enemy's weakness against them.He felt a weakness in the knees.The interviewer asked me what my biggest weakness was.
Its weakness is gasoline
what is Orpheus' weakness
i have no idea what her weakness was
His weakness was his hair.
Goddesses do not know weakness. In listing a weakness, the label reveals more of the individual then that of a deity.
grass is his only weakness
the weakness of a monkey is food
yes it has a weakness
he hadno weakness
he has no weakness he is a God of War!
ground type